Upstart, Frosted, Imperia All Work in Florida

Ralph M. Evans' Upstart, winner of the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) and disqualified from first in the Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park, breezed six furlongs in 1:13 2/5 at Palm Meadows Training Center March 13 in preparation for the $1 million Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I) March 28.

With regular exercise rider Vicki King aboard, the New York-bred son of Flatter   went a "steady half" in :49 and the next eighth in :12 1/5, according to trainer Rick Violette.

"It was an excellent work," Violette said. "He got a good blow out of it and cooled out good and scoped clean. I called an audible after five furlongs and had him go out another strong eighth to make sure we got what we needed to get done."

Following the Fountain of Youth, run over a deep, slow racetrack, it appeared as if Upstart would be heading back home to Aqueduct Racetrack to prepare for the Twinspires.com Wood Memorial (gr. I) April 4, but Violette then announced the ridgling would remain in Florida for the Florida Derby before going on to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

"The Wood is a nice race back home and it's still in the picture if he doesn't eat this week or somehow tells us we need another week," Violette said. "But timing-wise, I like the five weeks and I like not having to ship, and April is a great month down here to train up to the (Kentucky) Derby, so there are a lot of plusses to stay here."

Upstart, bred by Mrs. Gerald Nielson, has finished in the money in all six of his career starts, including a second-place finish in the grade I Champagne Stakes and a third-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I).

Also working at Palm Meadows March 13 were a pair of Kiaran McLaughlin-trained 3-year-olds, Frosted and Imperia, who both are coming off disappointing efforts.

Frosted, who was fourth in the Fountain of Youth, posted a bullet work of 1:11.65 going in company with a pair of fellow Godolphin Racing-owned stablemates. The Tapit   colt was in front and looked like a winner approaching the eighth pole of the Fountain of Youth before suddenly dropping back and finishing fourth.

"We're trying to eliminate some things that happened to him in the Fountain of Youth. We don't know why he kind of pulled himself up or stopped. We put him behind horses today and we were very pleased with his work," McLaughlin said. "What we were happy to see was a very serious work and that he did it the right way."

McLaughlin said in addition to the Florida Derby, he is considering the Wood Memorial and Toyota Blue Grass (gr. I), both on April 4, for Frosted, runner-up in the Holy Bull and Remsen (gr. II).

"We're happy with where we are, but we still don't know exactly where we're going," he said.

Imperia, fifth in the Feb. 21 Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots as the 3-2 favorite, breezed half in :48 4/5. He is targeting the Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati Spiral Stakes (gr. III) at March 21 Turfway Park.