WinStar Acquires Minority Interest in Upstart

WinStar Farm has acquired a minority interest in Upstart (Flatter), winner of the GII Holy Bull S. and runner-up in the GI Florida Derby and GII Fountain of Youth S. earlier this year. Trained by Rick Violette Jr., Upstart is being pointed toward a start in the GI Kentucky Derby May 2. 

“Upstart has been on our radar since the Breeders’ Cup,” commented Elliot Walden, CEO and President of WinStar. “Jerry Brown of Thoro-Graph approached me because he really believes this colt has a big future. We are honored to be partners with such a nice man as Ralph Evans on such an exciting young horse as Upstart.” 

Violette will continue to train the New York-bred, who won twice and finished second in the GI Champagne S. and third in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile as a 2-year-old. Upstart began his sophomore campaign with a victory in the Jan. 24 Holy Bull at Gulfstream, and crossed the wire first only to be disqualified and placed second behind Itsaknockout (Lemon Drop Kid) in the Feb. 21 Fountain of Youth. He most recently checked in second behind ‘TDN Rising Star’Materiality (Afleet Alex) in the Mar. 28 Florida Derby.

“When Elliot called, I became excited about what we could do together with WinStar in a partnership on Upstart,” said Evans, owner of the dark bay. “We look forward to sharing in Upstart’s promising future.” 

Upstart breezed a half-mile in a bullet :47.40 Friday at Palm Meadows, and is expected to have one more workout this weekend in preparation for his Derby bid the following Saturday.