Multiple graded stakes winner Upstart (Flatter–Party Silks, by Touch Gold) has been retired and will take up stud duties at Brereton and Elizabeth Jones's Airdrie Stud in 2017.
Racing initially for Ralph M. Evans, and then co-campaigned with WinStar Farm, and trained by Rick Violette, the 4-year-old captured last year's GII Lambholm South Holy Bull S. as well as this year's GIII Razorback H. Upstart was widely viewed as the top Kentucky Derby prospect on the East Coast following his dominant score in the GII Holy Bull S., defeating Frosted and Keen Ice. He hit the board six times at Grade I level, including the 2014 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile and GI Champagne S. and in the 2015 GI Florida Derby and GI Haskell Invitational. This term, he was third in the GI Metropolitan H. and GI Whitney S. On the board in 11 of 15 starts, Upstart retires with four wins and earnings of $1,732,780.
“Upstart is an absolutely gorgeous son of a fantastic sire in Flatter,” said Brereton Jones. “We think he's the best 2-year-old Flatter has ever had and love that he trained on to be a top 3- and 4-year-old. I'll put his 102 Beyer as a 2-year-old and 108 at 3 up against any first-crop sire in America and to be right there in 6 Grade Is from the Breeders' Cup Juvenile to the Whitney tells you what a top-class racehorse he was. He'll get our full support at stud and we couldn't be more excited or grateful to team with Mr. Evans and WinStar Farm in working to make him a great success.”
Upstart will stand his first season at a fee of $10,000.
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