Upstart Works Well in Return to Tab

Ralph Evan’s GI Kentucky Derby contender Upstart (Flatter) proved emphatically that he is no worse for wear after spiking a fever last week, returning to the work tab at Palm Meadows Friday to post a bullet four-furlong breeze in :47.40 (1/6). The GII Holy Bull S. winner and GI Florida Derby runner-up, who missed a breeze last Saturday, galloped out five furlongs in a snappy :59.47 under exercise rider Vicki King. 

“All in all, wow,” trainer Rick Violette, Jr. said of the move. “He did things so easily. He wouldn’t pull up on the backside. He galloped out three-quarters in [1:14], and that was under orders for the rider on the walkie-talkie to ease him up. I’m not sure if we could have done things any differently or any better. He’s just a good horse, and we try not to get in his way.” 

A post-race examination revealed no lingering effects of his brief illness. “He just scoped clean,” Violette noted. “He’s cooling out great. We’ll see how he comes out of it… We breezed a day early, so now I have an extra day to let him bounce out of this if it’s taken any toll on him, which I don’t know if it did.” 

Upstart will work once more in Florida at the end of next week before shipping to Churchill Downs Apr. 28 for the May 2 Derby.