Adam Coglianese
Startup Nation, a 2-year-old from the first crop of Temple City (Dynaformer), delivered an impressive debut performance at Saratoga on Thursday afternoon, coming from off the pace to win a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight on grass.
Trained by Chad Brown for Klaravich Stables, Inc. and William H. Lawrence, and send off at odds of 9-1 in the field of eight juveniles, Startup Nation made his way from post seven toward the inside by the clubhouse turn under jockey Joel Rosario, racing off the rail in fifth and chasing runaway pacesetter Navy Blue.
More than 10 lengths from the leader in the backstretch, Startup Nation began passing horses rounding the far turn, advancing into second by upper stretch. He ran down the tiring pacesetter inside the final furlong, then dug in to fend off energetic closer Chief Kitten (Kitten’s Joy), another Brown-trainee. The margin of victory was an authoritative two lengths. After a half-mile in 47.99 and a mile in 1:36.40, the final time over the firm Mellon turf was 1:42.70. [VIDEO]
Chad Brown’s response to the performance was, “Very impressed!” Continued Brown, “This horse had been training really well. He came to me from Nick de Meric who gets all the horses ready for these owners. We were excited to get him started. He had trained really well in the morning.”
As to the future, Brown said, “Certainly he’s earned his way into a stakes race off his debut win. We’ll see how comes out of the race and determine when or where that happens.”
Bred by Spendthrift Farm, which stands Temple City, Startup Nation is the second winner from two starters for his dam Pennyrile, a black type-placed Kentucky-bred daughter of Wagon Limit who is a half-sister to 2-year-old stakes-winning dirt router Dirty Rotten Shame. Startup Nation was purchased by Nick de Meric at Fasig-Tipton New York-bred preferred yearling sale for $95,000. For his debut victory he earned $43,800.
Pennyrile currently has a yearling filly and weanling colt both by Dublin.
