Violence was bred in Kentucky by Dell Ridge Farm, became the third male and ninth overall Grade I winner for his Medaglia d'Oro.
A versatile stallion whose offspring have won events at the top level on dirt, turf, and synthetics, Medaglia d'Oro was tagged as a "filly sire" after 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra, two-time champion filly Songbird and two-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty.
[3] Violence was sold for $600,000 from consignment through agents Nick Sallusto and Hanzly Albina at the 2011 Keeneland September Yearling Sale to Steven Marshall's Black Rock Stable.
Violence began his career on August 18 at Saratoga in a Maiden Special Weight event for two-year-olds over a distance of seven furlongs in field of 8 of which five were first-starters including the future 2013 Kentucky Derby winner Orb.
Drifting out inside the furlong marker, drew alongside Titletown Five, bumping him near the wire and narrowly prevailed by a neck with Orb finishing well in third place.
"[5] Todd Pletcher wanting to give more time between races opted to pass the Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct and instead shipped Violence to the West Coast for the Grade I CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park which was held on December 15.
Violence stalked mid-pack a bit off the rail as a fast pace developed as Fury Kapcori grabbed the early lead under Joe Talamo before Really Mr Greely took over on his outside while clearing the opening quarter in :22.97.
[6] Todd Pletcher sent Violence to his training center at Palm Meadows in Florida after the CashCall Futurity victory for a short rest before preparing for his three-year-old campaign.
[7] Violence started as the 3/5 odds-on favorite chased the pace, eased out to rally three wide leaving the far turn and opened a clear lead in the stretch, then responded when Orb moved to the fore late and held on well while being beaten by half-a-length on to the wire in a time of 1:42.24 for the 1+1⁄16-mile distance.
"We ended up being pretty close to a hot pace and as he tends to do, when he made the lead he kind of idles a little bit," Pletcher said of Violence.