Upstart gives owner first BC contender

ELMONT, N.Y. – After watching Upstart finish second in the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont Park on Oct. 4, trainer Rick Violette wasn’t rushing to his nearest travel agent to book a trip to Southern California for the Breeders’ Cup.

Having to ship across the country to run against a heavily favored, extremely talented, and locally based colt in American Pharoah wasn’t necessarily appealing.

But after Violette thought about it, he had a change of heart. The speed figures for the Champagne came back strong – Daredevil, the winner, got a 107 Beyer Speed Figure, and Upstart received a 102. And it’s not like Violette and owner Ralph Evans are fixtures at the Breeders’ Cup. Violette is winless with five starters over two Breeders’ Cups, and Evans has never had a Breeders’ Cup starter.

“You don’t get there that often – at least I don’t, and Mr. Evans doesn’t. I think that’s a race we can improve on, and he should relish two turns,” Violette said. “You’re supposed to go.”

Upstart, a New York-bred son of Flatter, was beaten only 2 1/2 lengths by Daredevil – likely the second or third choice in the Juvenile – while finishing 12 3/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher The Truth Or Else.

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The way Violette sees it, Upstart was one of the only horses to make up ground on a sloppy track that was favoring front-running types.

Upstart returned to the work tab Monday, breezing a half-mile in 49 seconds at Aqueduct. He will do all of his training at Aqueduct before shipping to California on Oct. 28, the last flight out of New York.

As of Wednesday, there appeared to be at least 12 2-year-olds under consideration to be pre-entered Monday for the Juvenile, run at 1 1/16 miles. They are American Pharoah, Calculator, Carpe Diem, Daredevil, Lucky Player, Mr. Z, One Lucky Dane, Private Prospect, Souper Colossal, Texas Red, The Truth Or Else, and Upstart.

On Monday at Monmouth, Souper Colossal, the undefeated winner of the Sapling and Tyro stakes, worked five furlongs in 1:01. Trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. caught him galloping out a mile in 1:44.

“Perfect work for him, couldn’t have been better,” said Plesa, adding that since the Sapling, Souper Colossal has “gotten bigger, stronger, just the way you’d want to see him.”

◗ Mike Smith has picked up the mount on Mr. Z, the runner-up to Carpe Diem in the Breeders’ Futurity, according to Justin Zayat, racing manager for Zayat Stables, which owns Mr. Z.