Well-Rounded Upstart Ready to Roll

by Alan Carasso

Despite the fact that Ralph Evan’s Upstart (Flatter) has crossed the line a decisive winner in each of his two starts in 2015, it seems the New York-bred ridgling isn’t getting all the accolades he perhaps deserves. That public perception could be subject to significant change this weekend if Upstart can validate favoritism in the GI Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. 

Runner-up to Daredevil (More Than Ready) in the GI Champagne S. Oct. 4 and third to Texas Red (Afleet Alex) and TDN Rising Star Carpe Diem (Giant’s Causeway) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Nov. 1 after covering more ground than either of those rivals, Upstart returned to action in the GII Holy Bull S. Handy to a modest pace in the comebacker, he exploded in the stretch to best the well-regarded Frosted (Tapit) by 5 1/2 dominating lengths. That effort earned him odds-on favoritism for the GII Fountain of Youth S. Feb. 21 and it looked like another facile success, but stewards had other ideas and demoted Upstart to second for allegedly causing final-furlong interference. Itsaknockout (Lemon Drop Kid), who was checked by Luis Saez, was put up to the victory. While trying to leave that disappointing turn of events in the past, trainer Rick Violette Jr. is clearly still a bit annoyed, even five weeks down the road. 

“It was frustrating because there were a couple of things that made you wonder what kind of decisions were made from the judge’s stand that day,” the conditioner told media assembled for an NTRA teleconference Tuesday afternoon. 

Having posted a big figure in the Holy Bull, Violette admittedly went easy on his charge in the weeks leading up to the Fountain of Youth, and–but for the unfortunate disqualification–it was a plan that nearly came together perfectly. 

“I thought I had to be careful [after the Holy Bull], let him refuel a little bit,” Violette explained. “We didn’t do a whole lot, and [in the Fountain of Youth], we hoped to have our cake and eat it too. He did regress a little bit, numbers-wise, but he did manage to cross the line first.” 

Since his last race and having made a decision to remain in the Sunshine State instead of shipping north for the Wood Memorial, Upstart has registered a trio of works at Palm Meadows–a strong six-furlong move in 1:13 2/5 Mar. 13 and a sharp five-furlong breeze in :59 2/5 (4/24) Mar. 21. 

“It was a similar work to before the Holy Bull,” Violette offered. “His last eighth was his fastest, :11 4/5, and he galloped out [in one minute] 12 [and] change. It’s exactly what we were looking for. He didn’t look like he was going that fast, he always confuses the clockers. He gobbles up the ground, ate up afterwards and we trained him the next day. He’s ready to roll.” 

Violette has been down the Derby road before, specifically with fellow New York-breds Read the Footnotes (Smoke Glacken), seventh in the 2004 Derby and with Samraat (Noble Causeway), a creditable fifth last May. The conditioner has a fair bit of admiration for those two colts, but Upstart is a different animal, in his estimation. 

“He’s more the complete package,” he opined. “Read the Footnotes was brilliant, and Samraat–he had a lot of heart. When you thought he was finished he had more. Upstart is awfully talented and he’s adaptable. If there’s no speed, he could be on the lead or 10 lengths out of it if the pace is stronger. He is more rounded, but the other two were pretty good too.” 

And so Violette belives he enters Saturday’s Florida Derby with strictly the horse to beat, all things equal. 

“I am not expecting that he won’t run well, but things happen,” he commented. “Otherwise I expect him to run a really good race. He’s run over all kinds of tracks and I expect he’ll be tough to beat.”