Violette Makes Plans for Upstart

Ralph M. Evans’ Upstart (Flatter), recent winner of the GII Lambholm South Holy Bull S. at Gulfstream Park, has been training strongly in preparation for a potential start in the GII Besilu Fountain of Youth S. at that venue Feb. 21., according to trainer Rick Violette Jr. The conditioner noted that his charge put in a strong gallop at Palm Meadows yesterday morning that essentially amounted to an unofficially timed breeze.

“I wanted him to get a big gallop on the bridle, kind of dragging [the rider] around there and make him blow a little bit,” commented Violette. “I really wanted to wait for the weekend to breeze him, but he was just feeling so sharp and feeling too good. I needed to do something to blow some steam.”

The trainer acknowledged that Upstart’s energetic behavior has made it necessary to tailor the New York-bred’s training plan over the next few weeks. 

“I really didn’t want to breeze him two more times, so [yesterday] was kind of a hedge, and I’ll breeze him probably Saturday morning,” said Violette. “If all is well, we’ll go to the Fountain of Youth.”

After a victorious effort in the Jan. 24 Holy Bull–his sophomore debut–Upstart garnered significant attention in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager. The ridgling was sent off at odds of 53-1 in Pool 1 off a 2-year-old campaign highlighted by a second-place finish in the GI Champagne S. and a third-place run in the GI Sentinent Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile., and was given a 12-1 chance in recently closed Pool 2.