Upstart breezes, eyes Fountain of Youth

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Upstart, who stamped himself as a leading Kentucky Derby contender with his impressive victory in the Grade 2 Holy Bull Stakes, blew out an easy half-mile in 50 seconds at Palm Meadows on Wednesday. The work was his first since the Holy Bull 10 days earlier.

Trainer Rick Violette said he was hoping to wait for the weekend to breeze Upstart, but “he was getting more and more full of himself, so we just let him blow off some steam this morning.”

Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Vesce timed Upstart from the three-furlong pole out an eighth of a mile past the wire in 12.60 seconds, 37.80, and 50. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:03.

“I thought the work was excellent,” said Violette. “He did it effortlessly with his ears pricked.”

Violette said his first option for Upstart’s next start is the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at 1 1/16 miles on Feb. 21.

“I’m first looking at the Fountain of Youth,” said Violette. “But we’ll keep watching him, see how he’s eating and how he’s acting in the morning. He told us pretty loud and clear before the Holy Bull, so we’ll just pay attention to him again.

“Up to now, he hasn’t missed an oat, and he’s moving wonderfully. By running in the Fountain of Youth, it still leaves us a latitude of five or six weeks to the next one and then four to five weeks for the Derby after that. I certainly like the position we’re in.”