Claire Novak 9y

Upstart takes Holy Bull Stakes

Horse Racing

New York-bred Upstart proved his class Jan. 24 at Gulfstream Park, tracking pacesetter Bluegrass Singer to the final turn and then drawing away impressively to win the $400,000 Lambholm South Holy Bull Stakes by 5-1/2 lengths.

The Holy Bull is worth points of 10-4-2-1 to the top four finishers on the road to the Kentucky Derby, a path the 3-year-old son of Flatter will follow for owner Ralph M. Evans and trainer Rick Violette Jr.

Upstart was making his 2015 debut after galloping through a 2-year-old campaign that included a second in the Champagne Stakes and a third in the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

"You never know if they'll make the grade when they turn from 2 to 3, and today he definitely moved forward," Violette said. "That's one of the advantages of running today -- you have two weeks to play with. We can go up to the Gotham [March 7 at Aqueduct Racetrack] or we can come back here in four weeks in the Fountain of Youth [Feb. 21].

"There is a cushion there if we came off the bench a little strong. We got some points today. If we ran in the Withers [Feb. 7 at Aqueduct] we would have been locked in to four weeks, four weeks, four weeks and there is no wiggle room. So this is a good spot."

Breaking from the 8 hole, Upstart was never far from Bluegrass Singer as that rival lead the field of 9 to post an easy quarter in :24.52 seconds and a half in :48.82 seconds. Getting his cue from jockey Jose Ortiz as three-quarters went in 1:12.49, the 2-1 second choice ranged up on the outside to strike the front turning for home.

"With his post position -- and this was a tough race -- if you tap on the breaks a little bit, you're six wide and you're going to be widest on both turns. He needed to be a little more aggressive leaving there to get position, and Jose [Ortiz] did the right thing," Violette said.

Upstart widened away professionally through a mile in 1:37.06, remaining focused on his task to finish 1-1/16 miles in 1:43.61 on a fast track.

"It was terrific; he was three-wide both turns, but we were in a really good spot," Violette said. "They went :24 seconds, :48 seconds, and he was exactly where he was supposed to be. Jose did a really great job."

"It was perfect," Ortiz said. "By the half-mile pole I let him go and said, 'Let's see what we have here,' and when we turned for home, we rolled. He was very good. He jumped into the bit, and I knew he was ready.

"Rick did a tremendous job and I want to thank them for giving me the opportunity to ride this amazing horse. When I saw him today in the paddock, I was very surprised because he looked so much bigger and so much stronger. I think he wants to go a mile and a quarter, so we will hopefully make the Kentucky Derby with him."

Upstart returned $6.20, $3.20, and $2.40 while 3-2 favorite Frosted got up for second from post 1 under jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. to pay $3 and $2.40.

"The one hole wasn't ideal," trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. "We thought it was good to save ground, but we were in a little tight and took some dirt. But, it was a good race. We were just second-best. Irad had to wait a little bit and figure out which way he was going to go, but you have to get educated as you go along this trail. The winner was impressive."

Bluegrass Singer held to complete the trifecta and was worth $2.80 to show.

Trainer Marcus Vitali called the race a step forward for Bluegrass Singer, winner of the Jan. 3 Mucho Macho Man Stakes going a mile.

"Great race," Vitali said. "It was our first time going 1-1/16 miles, two turns … I'm very pleased."

Completing the order of finish were Juan and Bina, Keen Ice, Frammento, First Down, Decision Day, and High Noon Rider. Dom the Bomb scratched to run in the Hutcheson Stakes, where he was eased.

Bred by Mrs. Gerald A. Nielsen from of the Touch Gold mare Party Silks, Upstart improved his record to 3-1-1 from five career starts for earnings of $701,880.

"We'll see how he bounces off this and follow his lead," Violette remarked. "It could be that we'll stay here [for the grade I, $1 million Besilu Stables Florida Derby on March 28] to give us the extra two weeks going into the [Kentucky] Derby. That might be the thing to do. It's nice to have that option."

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