American Pharoah out

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

If Upstart was trained by someone generic -- he'd be both my Breeders Cup Juvenile horse and my early Kentucky Derby standout prospect.

Unfortunately, he's trained by Rick Violette, who is uncommonly good with debuting 2-year-olds -- and unlike the general trainer, he's not a guy that you can trust to develop a horse who is impressive early.

That horse is by Flatter out of a Touch Gold mare. Not only is that a big-time anti precocity pedigree, but it's a very good distance pedigree. Both the grandsire (A. P. Indy) and damsire (Touch Gold) were Belmont Stakes winners.

He was so green in his debut, Ortiz looked like your average 7-lbs bug riding him, and he still blew a nice NY Bred MSW field away with a good figure going just 5.5 furlongs.

If Rick Violette has no association with this horse, and he wasn't going East to West and breaking from post 13...I'd be real excited about him.

In a way hasnt he already busted the Violette curse?? He has run 3 big races already. Not just one and fall apart like the typical Rick V baby.