Top-five First-Crop sire Upstart tallied his fifth overall winner Sunday at Ellis Park when Brereton Jones homebred Upstriker cruised to a five-length maiden special weight win in his first lifetime start.
Owned by Jones with William Sparks, Upstriker stalked Bluegrass Pharoah until taking over in upper stretch, then drew off sharply to win ridden out.
The dark bay colt is out of Casanova Striker and is a half-brother to a trio of stakes winners, while his dam is a half-sister to graded stakes winner Duveen.
Among Upstart’s first winners is TDN Rising Star Reinvestment Risk and Saturday Saratoga maiden special winner Founder. Upstart has several entries in the coming days, including a pair of maiden special hopefuls at Churchill Downs’ Derby week meet.
