Upstart Works for Possible Jim Dandy Start
Grade 2 winner Upstart put in his first timed work over Saratoga's main track Saturday morning in anticipation of a possible start in the Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy here August 1.
Under exercise rider Rodney Payne, the 3-year-old Flatter ridgling went five furlongs in 59.89 seconds under the watchful eye of trainer Rick Violette.
"He looked excellent," Violette said. "He went the last eighth in 12 [seconds] flat, and I don't think the track is all that fast; it hasn't been in the morning. He was exceptional."
Ralph Evans and WinStar Farm's Upstart hasn't raced since finishing last of 18 in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby May 2. He was given a short break before posting four works at Aqueduct between June 30 and July 17 prior to coming to Saratoga.
"He's been perfect. We gave him a few weeks off at the farm and he hasn't missed a beat since coming back," Violette said. "Whatever happened in the Derby stays in the Derby, because he didn't run. He didn't pick up his feet."
At 2, Upstart won the Funny Cide Stakes for New York-breds and finished second in the Grade 1 Champagne and third in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He wintered at Gulfstream Park and began 2015 by winning the Grade 2 Holy Bull before successive second-place efforts in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth and Grade 1 Florida Derby.
With the blessing of his owners, Violette skipped both the Grade 1 Preakness and Grade 1 Belmont Stakes to point for a summer campaign that could lead to a date in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers August 29.
"Maybe the winter got to him, I don't know, but he cooled out today like he just went to school in the paddock," Violette said. "We kind of gave him a few weeks just because we weren't going to run back in the Preakness off that effort and also weren't going to run back in the Belmont because if you're wrong, you can end a horse. We did the right thing and, hopefully, it pays dividends."
Violette won the second race of the meet on Friday's opening day with first-time starter Lemon Liqueur, a 2-year-old daughter of Exchange Rate owned by Leonard Riggio's My Meadowview Farm. Favored at 2-1 in the field of 10 New York-bred fillies, she switched from inside to outside around the turn and bumped with runner-up Here Comes Rosie before drawing away to win by 2 ½ lengths.
"She's a good filly. I like when the 2-year-olds, first-timers, kind of get surrounded and take dirt and kind of squirt away. It was pretty cool," Violette said. "She's been fast, maybe a little nervous but she's shown some talent so it wasn't a surprise."
Violette said he may point Lemon Liqueur to the 6 ½-furlong $200,000 Seeking the Ante Stakes, one of six state-bred stakes scheduled for Aug. 28.
Source: NYRA Communications