- Adam Coglianese
Upstart, a 2-year-old ridgling by Flatter owned by Ralph Evans and trained by Rick Violette, got his career off to a promising start with an impressive Saratoga Racetrack debut Friday, winning a 5 1/2-furlong for New York-bred 2-year-olds from off the pace by open lengths.
Veering out slightly at the break to avoid a rival, Upstart, the 3-2 favorite, broke sixth of seven, but got into stride in the backstretch beneath Jose Ortiz and made his way up into fourth at the rail. Meanwhile Bo Bob and Essence At Noon hooked up on the front end, chased by 8-5 second choice Tizquick.
As the top two were joined by Tizquick, Upstart drew nearer to the frontrunners rounding the far turn and had plenty of run, but with three horses ahead of him and one to his outside, nowhere to run to.
When a hole opened up in upper stretch, Upstart came through and angled over to the rail, where he gained the lead by the furlong marker. He drew off impressively to get the victory by 5 1/4 lengths. Tizquick was second, 1 3/4 lengths clear of longshot Breakin the Fever in third. The final time for 5 1/2 furlongs over the fast going was 1:04.01. [VIDEO]
Violette was beaming after the race, happy rather than otherwise that his colt had to overcome a little adversity. “I loved the race! We got about two races’ worth of education today,” the trainer said. “You beat the latch, you break them on top, they win, but they don’t learn a whole lot.”
Violette continued, “Jose [Ortiz] breezed him once or twice and he had a lot of confidence in him. So, when he didn’t break real well he was fine, settling, getting dirt in his face, getting his feet underneath him. Then it was just a matter of finding a hole. When he tipped to the inside he kind of took off. This is worth three races. Now we can do anything with him, go anywhere with him where he has a shot talent-wise. I don’t have to worry about education.”
Violette said he felt that Upstart came into the race well-prepared. “He didn’t break any watches in the morning but he did everything right. He did exactly what was asked of him. He went as fast as we asked him. He got dirt in his face. He split horses in the morning.” Violette added, “I thought if we were going to get beat today, a really good horse would have to beat us home.”
The conditioner feels that it will be perfectly reasonable for Upstart to stretch out in his next start. “He won’t run back in the Hopeful or anything like that. As we look at Belmont, there’re a couple of races there. He should improve going further. We could run him a mile off this.”
Bred by Mrs. Gerald A. Nielsen and foaled at her Sunnyfield Farm in Bedford, Upstart is the first winner for his dam Party Silks, an unraced daughter of Touch Gold also bred by Mrs. Nielsen. His second dam is stakes placed and third dam is a stakes winner. Mrs. Nielsen, who joined the owners in the winner circle said, “I have to give a lot of credit to his trainer. I’m just very thankful. He is a great horse!”
Upstart was purchased by Evans on Violette’s advice at last year’s Fasig-Tipton New York-bred yearling sale from the Summerfield consignment for $130,000. Violette said, “He just had a great shoulder, really well-balanced. He looked like he was going to be a decent size, and he’s actually gotten bigger than we anticipated. He was pretty correct, he had a decent family. As they say ‘he checked all the boxes,’ which he did.”
