KENTUCKY DERBY REPORT
JANUARY 28, 2015
by James Scully
Upstart (Flatter) was sensational in Saturday’s Holy Bull (G2) at Gulfstream
Park, romping to a 5 1/2-length victory. His eye-catching 105 BRIS Speed rating
is even more impressive given how wide he traveled throughout the 1 1/16-mile
race (more than 30 feet farther than both the runner-up and third-placer).
The New York-bred colt has clearly improved at age three for trainer Richard
Violette Jr., a key attribute for any Kentucky Derby hopeful with two-year-old
form.
Upstart was easy to identify as a possible Kentucky Derby contender entering
his sophomore season but lacked fanfare — his 53-1 odds in Pool 1 of the
Kentucky
Derby Future Wager (November 28-30) were more indicative of a second-tier
prospect.
The dark bay captured his first two starts over state-bred rivals in a pair
of sprints at Saratoga, including the 6 1/2-furlong Funny Cide. In his first
attempt against open rivals, he offered a solid middle move to record a
non-threatening second in Champagne Stakes (G1) last October and followed with a
respectable third in his 2014 finale, finishing 6 1/2 lengths behind the winning
Texas Red (Afleet Alex) in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).
By virtue of his Holy Bull tour-de-force, Upstart will be among the favorites
in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (February 6-8). He’s by the A.P.
Indy stallion Flatter, whose runners tend to improve with age, and is out of a
mare by Belmont Stakes winner Touch Gold. The presence of champion sprinter
Housebuster, sire of the second maternal dam, adds a nice mix of speed to
Upstart’s stamina-infused bloodlines.
Violette was also on last year’s Kentucky Derby trail with another New
York-bred, Samraat, who opened 2014 with smart wins in the Withers (G3) and
Gotham (G3) before a second in the TwinSpires Wood Memorial (G1). But Samraat
lacked a favorable pedigree for classic distances (out of an Indian Charlie
mare) and wound up fifth in the 140th Kentucky Derby.
Upstart continued to display good tactical speed in the Holy Bull, racing within a
couple of lengths of the early pace, and netted a 107 BRIS Late Pace rating
while winning convincingly. He’s got a lot going for him.
Frosted (Tapit) remains highly promising. After concluding last year with a
commendable second in the Remsen (G2), the Kiaran McLaughlin trainee was bet
down to 3-2 favoritism in the Holy Bull but had to settle for runner-up honors
once again.
The well-bred gray colt saved ground from his innermost post position,
stalking the pace in fourth during the early stages, and finished up nicely to
be clear of third-placer Bluegrass Singer (Bluegrass Cat). Frosted equaled his
98 BRIS Speed rating from the Remsen and earned a 101 Late Pace. It will be no
surprise to see him keep moving forward off the encouraging performance.
Bluegrass Singer saved third in his two-turn bow, but the stakes-winning
gelding probably doesn’t want any part of longer distances.
Late runners Keen Ice (Curlin), Frammento (Midshipman) and First Down (Street
Sense) all failed to make a significant impact; their connections will be hoping
for much more next time.
Debut winner
Khozan (Distorted Humor) is behind the proverbial eight-ball, making such a
late career debut on January 24, but the Todd Pletcher-trained colt is one to
watch following his impressive maiden tally on the Holy Bull undercard.
A half-brother to three-time champion and $4.8-million earner Royal Delta,
the $1 million yearling drew off sharply to a 3 3/4-length decision and earned a
103 BRIS Speed rating after completing seven furlongs in 1:23.63. His
performance was flattered by Barbados (Speightstown), who stopped the teletimer
in 1:24.39 winning the Hutcheson (G3) one race later as the 3-5 favorite.
Upcoming
There are no scoring races this weekend, but Texas Red will make his
three-year-old bow in Sunday’s seven-furlong San Vicente (G2) at seven furlongs.