Kentucky Derby Eve for NY-Bred Connections
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Kentucky Derby Eve for NY-Bred Connections By Bill Heller As the days and hours wind down toward Saturday’s historic Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, the connections of the three three-year-olds hoping to become the second New York- bred to win the Run for the Roses ‒ a dozen years after Funny Cide made racing history by not only winning the Derby, but the Preakness as well ‒ shared their thoughts. Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s International Star, bred by long-time partners Katy Voss and Bob Manfuso and trained by Mike Maker, drew the best post position of the New York trio: the 12 post. “We hope he’s a rising star out of post position 12,” Ken Ramsey said Thursday. “It’s my best chance to win the Kentucky Derby ever.” Ramsey said he was deeply concerned waiting for International Star’s name to be called at the post-position draw Wednesday with the near-impossible rail, as well as the two and three posts, still without horses. Asked if he was excited about the 12 post, Ramsey said, “I was more excited about what I didn’t get ‒ the 1, 2 and 3. We didn’t want any of them. We’re in pretty good shape. There’s speed inside us. We could run right past all of them.” A victory by International Star wouldn’t be a shocking result. He’s won three straight, sweeping the three Derby preps at The Fair Grounds, capped by the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby. His fourth- place finish behind El Kabeir in a Grade 2 stakes at Churchill Downs last November suggests he won’t have a problem with the quirky track. Only eight of these 20 Derby horses have raced at Churchill Downs. “Our horse is doing great,” Maker said Thursday. “We don’t have any qualms about anything.” Maker said he’s not surprised by International Star’s continuing success as a three-year-old. “We always knew we had a nice horse,” Maker said. “He just got better day to day. The Derby is always exciting and everyone has a shot.” Trainer Rick Violette is thrilled he has a shot with a New York-bred in his second consecutive Kentucky Derby, following his entry of Samraat last year. This year it’s Upstart, who was bred by Joanne Nielsen. Upstart has finished in the money in all nine starts, winning three of them. He finished first four times, but was disqualified and placed second after winning the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes by 2 ¾ lengths. He then finished second in the Grade I Florida Derby behind undefeated Materiality. “One tough race is necessary,” Violette said. “Getting battle- tested in two is not something you design. He bounced back from both of those races well. I hope they made him an iron warrior.” Samraat lost fourth in last year’s Kentucky Derby by a nose to multiple stakes winner Wicked Strong. “Samraat had shown he was a warrior earlier in his career,” Violette said. “He was another one who always gave every ounce of his ability. I think Upstart shares those qualities.” WinStar Farm in Kentucky obviously admires Upstart’s abilities. They bought a piece of him last week. “It’s a terrific sign,” Violette said. “They’re trying to build a significant stallion roster. They always have their eyes out. It’s very cool that one of the major breeding operations in the world wanted to buy into Upstart.” Violette wasn’t thrilled when Upstart drew the 19 post Wednesday, but it’s directly outside the speedy Derby favorite, American Pharoah, who could carry Upstart into the race. The scratch of Stanford Thursday moved Upstart into the 18 post. “Initially it can be deflating, but we did move into the 18,” Violette said. “I’ll Have Another won from the 19. Those are the cards and you have to deal with them.” Violette initially thought he’d have to convince Upstart’s jockey Jose Ortiz, who has ridden Upstart in every race, “that we got the post we wanted.” He didn’t have to worry. “Jose called right afterwards and said, ‘Don’t worry about a thing, boss. We’re right where we want to be,’” Violette said. Being in the Derby two straight years is exactly what Violette wanted. “It’s pretty cool,” he said. He’s thrilled with how Upstart is coming into the biggest race of his life. “There’s usually something to tinker with,” he said. “Trainers are always trying to make them better. It’s nice not to have to do anything with Upstart. He’s a fast horse.” Phil Birsh’s homebred Tencendur, who finished second in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial to Frosted, completes the New York-bred trio about to start in the Derby. Tencendur, who is trained by George Weaver, drew the 4 post, right outside of speedy Materiality. “We’re very happy with it,” Birsh said Thursday from Kentucky. “It’s not about post position only. It’s about your neighbors. We have a chance to be in a good position.” On Saturday, he’ll be in a position to win the Kentucky Derby. He was pretty happy to be at Churchill Downs Thursday: “I’m having a wonderful time. It’s a wonderful experience. But you have to keep your feet on the ground.” That’s hard to do when your New York-bred steps into the starting gate for the Run for the Roses. Immortality beckons. .