Horse from the Hudson Valley Running in Today's Kentucky Derby
Upstart is from Sunnyfield Farm, and the Washington Post's Andrew Beyer believes he has a strong chance of winning the prestigious race.
By LANNING TALIAFERRO (Patch Staff)
May 2, 2015
By ALFRED BRANCH (Patch Staff)
Bedford-born horse Upstart will start from gate 19 in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, and the Washington Post’s handicapper Andrew Beyer is picking the colt to win.
Beyer said he is not overly impressed with the field of favorites, including American Pharoah and Carpe Diem, and believes Upstart has a chance partly because he has run strong recently.
“Although Upstart has won just three of his seven starts, he has run well in every one of them,” Beyer wrote.
Upstart was born at Sunnyfield Farm and is owned by Ralph Evans. The horse was trained by Rick Violette Jr. and will be ridden by Jose Ortiz.
“We’re hoping for the best, but just to get there is a big thrill,” Evans, a Greenwich resident, told News 12 Connecticut. The field for the 2015 Kentucky Derby will feature 20 horses, the maximum allowed.
In a statement, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino congratulated Upstart for making it to the race.
“Westchester County has a storied history of equestrian sports, and we couldn’t be more excited to continue that tradition with one of our very own, Upstart, competing at Churchill Downs this weekend,” said Astorino. “With great leaders like Sunnyfield Farm owner Joanne Nielson, Westchester continues to be a top destination for equestrian activities. Success stories like Upstart, and the American Gold Cup at Old Salem Farm, allow Westchester County to connect with sports fans all around the world year after year.”
Sunnyfield Farm rests on more than 230 acres near the corner of Routes 172 and 22, and it has bred horses for decades.
“For over 35 years, we have been breeding and training horses in Westchester County and we couldn’t be happier here,” added Nielson.
http://patch.com/new-york/southeast/horse-hudson-valley-running-todays-kentucky-derby?utm_source=alert-breakingnews&utm_medium=email&utm_term=sports&utm_campaign=alert
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