Upstart’s connections weigh options for Travers, Pennsylvania Derby

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Rick Violette can rattle off a host of reasons to run his New York-bred Upstart on Saturday in the Grade 1, $1.6 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga.

He can name only one reason not to run: American Pharoah.

Starting at Tuesday night’s post-position draw and possibly lasting all the way through Saturday morning, Violette and his owners will grapple with the choice of running for a third straight time against Triple Crown winner American Pharoah or waiting three weeks for the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx, a race that most likely won’t have American Pharoah in it.

Upstart, the winner of the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream in January, finished last to American Pharoah in the Kentucky Derby and third to him in the Haskell Invitational. Throwing out the Derby, Violette believes the Haskell was Upstart’s only real race since the March 28 Florida Derby, in which he finished second to Materiality.

“He is supposed to improve significantly from the Haskell,” Violette said.

Violette was delighted that Upstart drew the rail – one slot inside of American Pharoah, who was installed as the 1-5 morning-line favorite for the 146th Travers. Violette sees many of the 10 horses in the field having similar running styles, and Upstart won’t lose ground breaking from the rail.

Upstart is 2 for 2 at Saratoga, having beaten New York-breds twice last year, and has trained well over the track. Violette also has Irad Ortiz Jr., who sits atop the Saratoga jockey standings with 46 wins through 28 days of racing here. Violette said he believes his horse can get 1 1/4 miles.

“The plus column is long,” Violette said Wednesday. “He loves this racetrack. He’s training well, coming out of our own stall. We got the hottest rider in the country and a decent post position.”

The flip side is that Violette knows American Pharoah is an immense talent. He called American Pharoah’s victory in the Haskell “stunning.”

Upstart was made the fifth choice at 15-1 on the Travers morning line made by Eric Donovan of the New York Racing Association. At Parx, Violette believes he could be among the favorites.

“The paradox is: Do you run your horse when they’re really good or wait?” Violette said. “You win a lot more races when you’re 4-1 or less. At Parx, I could be first or second choice for a million.”

American Pharoah was scheduled to arrive at Albany International Airport at 2 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, and with the aid of a police escort, he was to be at Saratoga around 3 p.m. He was scheduled to jog early Thursday morning and gallop at 8:45 a.m. Friday during a 15-minute special training session reserved for Travers horses.

Frosted, the Jim Dandy Stakes runner-up, drew post 6 and was made the 6-1 second choice on the morning line, followed by Jim Dandy Stakes winner Texas Red, who drew post 4 and was made the 8-1 third choice. Keith Desormeaux, the trainer of Texas Red, was surprised by that.

“I’ll bet each of you $5 Texas Red goes off second choice,” Desormeaux said Wednesday to a group of three reporters.

Still, Desormeaux knows the task of facing American Pharoah is daunting.

“If he runs his race, he’s unbeatable,” Desormeaux said.

Keen Ice, the Haskell runner-up, drew post 7 and was made the 12-1 fourth choice. Smart Transition (20-1), Frammento (30-1), Tale of Verve (30-1), King of New York (50-1), and Mid Ocean (50-1) complete the field.

The Travers goes as race 11 on a 13-race card that begins at 11:45 a.m. The Travers will be shown live on NBC during a two-hour broadcast beginning at 4 p.m. Post time for the Travers is 5:46 p.m.