Knoll's Blue Velvet raring to go in Ladies Classic

In 1981, Susan Knoll packed her University of Kentucky chemistry degree and headed for the energy boom in Houston.

Knoll, who sends a runner into Saturday night's $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic at Sam Houston Race Park, has loved horses since a childhood visit to Kentucky's enchanting Keeneland Race Course.

"I grew up 23 miles from Keeneland," she said. "As you walk the grounds, it's like strolling around an Ivy League campus."

When she came to Houston, Knoll said, "I had three really good job offers as a chemist in only two days."

She took one of them and enrolled in South Texas College of Law.

"I worked during the day, went to law school at night and paid for all the classes," she said.

She became a successful patent attorney. Her chemistry background equipped her to specialize in science-based cases.

Long workdays never diluted Knoll's love for horses. When practicing law boosted her bank account, she became a thoroughbred breeder and owner. She owns nine horses. Her best - Blue Violet - will race in the Classic.

Trained by Larry Jones, Blue Violet will probably be trailing Cassatt and Shanon Nicole in the early going.

"They're both speedy horses," Knoll said. "Blue Violet is very good from the starting gate. I still expect her to be behind them, but not far behind. She has trained well for this race."

Jones will cheer two entrants because he also trains Cassatt.

Saturday's program begins at 6:05 p.m. The Classic will start about 9:35 p.m.

The schedule includes the $200,000 Connally Turf Cup, the $75,000 Frontier Utilities Turf Sprint and the $50,000 Allen's Landing.

Trainer Michael Maker shoots for his third Connally win in the last four years with two entrants, Coalport and Dreams Cut Short. To be ridden by Javier Castellano, Coalport might be the better horse. Castellano has been first, second or third nationally in purse winnings for four consecutive years. In 2013, the Venezuelan's mounts set a jockey record by surpassing $26 million in purses.

Castellano will also ride Maker's Shanon Nicole in the Classic.

Hal Lundgren is a freelance writer.