Startup Nation Returns in Pennine Ridge
Klaravich
Stables and William H. Lawrence's Startup Nation is set to make his
2015 debut, facing seven rivals in the $200,000 1 1/8-mile Pennine Ridge
Stakes for 3-year-olds on the inner turf on Saturday at Belmont Park.
One of three entrants from the barn of Chad Brown, Startup Nation broke
his maiden at first asking last summer and went on to win the Grade 2
With Anticipation Stakes on August 28 at Saratoga. The New York-bred son
of Temple City will be making his first start since finishing a
troubled 11th in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf last
fall at Santa Anita. Joel Rosario is named to ride Startup Nation,
bearing the No. 1 saddle cloth, set as the morning line favorite at 2-1.
Brown will also saddle coupled entrymate Takeover Target, as well as
Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Chief Kitten. Undefeated in his two starts, both
of Takeover Target's wins have come over the Belmont turf, most recently
in an allowance optional claiming race on May 7. Takeover Target will
leave the gate as No. 1a, with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard.
Uncoupled
stablemate Chief Kitten, whose two career wins have come at a mile on
the grass, will be looking to stretch out for his owner-breeders. A New
York-bred son of Kitten's Joy, Pulpit Stakes winner Chief Kitten will go
off as No. 3 under Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez at morning line
odds of 8-1.
Gunpowder Farms LLC's Divisidero is among those
set to challenge the Brown trio. The Kitten's Joy colt, coming off of a
Grade 2 win in the American Turf Stakes on May 2 at Churchill Downs,
boasts a career record of two wins and a third-place finish from three
starts for trainer Buff Bradley. Going to post as No. 6 for jockey
Rafael Hernandez, Divisidero is the second-choice on the morning line at
odds of 5-2.
Rounding out the field for the Pennine Ridge are
Made in Detroit for trainer Rick Violette, Eh Cumpari will represent the
barn of Michael Dilger, Mark Casse-trainee World Class, and Rock Eagle
for trainer Barclay Tagg.
Sour