WinStar buys interest in Upstart

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - WinStar Farm announced Monday that it has acquired a minority interest in leading Kentucky Derby contender Upstart from his principal owner, Ralph Evans. Upstart will continue to be trained by Rick Violette.

Details of the transaction were not revealed. Upstart will give WinStar two horses in this year’s Derby field. It is also partners with Stonestreet Stable in Carpe Diem.

“Upstart has been on our radar since the Breeders’ Cup,” said Elliott Walden, WinStar president and CEO. “We are honored to be partners with such a nice man as Ralph Evans on an exciting young horse as Upstart.”

Upstart, a New York-bred son of Flatter, has won three races while never finishing off the board in seven career starts. His most important victory came in the Grade 2 Holy Bull, a 5 1/2-length triumph over Frosted, for which he earned a 105 Beyer Speed Figure.

He also crossed the finish line first only to be disqualified and placed second in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth. In his most recent start, Upstart finished second, beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Materiality, in the Grade 1 Florida Derby, while posting a career-best 108 Beyer.

“When Elliott called, I became excited about what we could do together with WinStar in a partnership on Upstart,” said Evans. “We look forward to sharing in Upstart’s promising future.”

Violette was equally delighted about the prospects of having WinStar as a partner in Upstart.

“It’s terrific news for all parties,” said Violette. “They bought into a nice horse who’ll also be a good stallion when his career goes in that direction. It’s also great for Ralph to take some money off the table and to be partners with a terrific entity like WinStar, who does such a terrific job in both the racing and breeding end of the business.”