Upstart wheels back on short rest to win Funny Cide
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Upstart won for the second time in nine days when surging late to run down the loose-on-the-lead Bustin It to register a one-length victory in the $200,000 Funny Cide Stakes for 2-year-old New York-breds Sunday at Saratoga.
Upstart overcame trouble to win his debut Aug. 15. Trainer Rick Violette decided to wheel his promising juvenile back on short rest in the Funny Cide with the knowledge that the race would come up a short field and that it would give him plenty of time to prepare for his next major objective, the Grade 1 Champagne.
With Jose Ortiz aboard, Upstart saved ground while reserved near the rear of the compact lineup as the even-money favorite Bustin It quickly sprinted to a commanding lead. Upstart moved to within striking distance of the leader entering the stretch but appeared to have too much ground to make up leaving the furlong grounds before coming on with a rush in the final sixteenth to prove clearly best.
Bustin It, who broke his maiden posting a convincing seven-length victory in Belmont Park’s Rockville Center Stakes, broke in stride, held a seemingly comfortable advantage throughout, but could not resist the winner. Bullheaded Boy finished more than eight lengths farther back in third.
Upstart, a son of Flatter owned by Ralph Evans, completed 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.23 and paid $5.10.
“It was an impressive effort because I thought he had too much to do with that horse loose on the lead,” said Violette. “I really thought Todd’s horse [Bullheaded Boy] would show more speed and hook up with Bustin It, but he didn’t. You could see [Ortiz] had horse. I just wasn’t sure he could make up that much ground over a pretty nice horse with zero help and after pretty much giving everybody a head start. [Upstart is] a serious horse, and if he comes out of it good, this gives us an extra week to get ready for the Champagne.”