Upstart (Flatter) exited his third-place effort in Sunday's GI Haskell Invitational in good shape and will now be aimed at the Aug. 29 GI Travers S.
“He came out of the race great; cooled out well and scoped clean,” said trainer Rick Violette, Jr. “It was a very fast race and we ran well off the bench. To me, he ran like he needed the race.”
Upstart, winner of the GII Holy Bull S. at Gulfstream over the winter, was making his first start since a disappointing effort in the GI Kentucky Derby.
Looking ahead, Violette added, “I think we can move forward for the Travers; the pace will be a little bit different, as well. We made the decision to run [in the Haskell], but it would have been interesting to run in [Saturday's GII Jim Dandy]; the race shape was totally different. I think we would have been on the bridle [in the Jim Dandy], just off the pace, and we might have had something to say. If that's the group that shows up for the Travers, I think we'll have some fun.”
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