Upstart On Target for Florida Derby

Ralph Evans' Upstart, disqualified to second in the Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth (gr. II) last time out, is on target for a start the $1 million Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I) March 28 at Gulfstream Park, trainer Rick Violette said March 8.

 

"Right now, we're certainly pointing to the Florida Derby," Violette said of the son of Flatter  , who won the Lambholm South Holy Bull (gr. II) Jan. 24 in his season debut. "We'll follow his lead if he makes us change course, but that's where we're going."

 

Upstart recorded his first work since the Fountain of Youth, breezing four furlongs in :48.48 March 7 at Palm Meadows Training Center. The move was the 10th-best of 43 workers at the distance that morning. Violette said he was pleased with the move and his runner came out of the work so well that he galloped Sunday morning.

 

"He went an easy half," Violette said. "We just let him blow off some steam, and he was great, and he cooled out great. I galloped him this morning. He didn't need a day off. I'm really happy with where we are. He's rebounded from the tough race in the Fountain of Youth."

 

After winning the Holy Bull by an emphatic 5 1/2 lengths, Upstart ran down some of South Florida's top 3-year-olds again in the Fountain of Youth Feb. 21, crossing the wire 2 3/4 lengths in front of the undefeated Itsaknockout. The stewards ruled, however, Upstart impeded that rival while drifting out in the stretch. Following the race, Violette said that he was considering all options for Upstart's next start, but Sunday morning he reported that the plan is to run Upstart in Gulfstream's signature race and key Triple Crown prep.

 

The 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby provides 100 points to the winner in the Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifying series of prep races.