Upstart Filly Runs To The Money, ‘Rising Star’ Honors

[Wandering Eyes]

Sent off a mortal lock at odds of 2-5, Team Valor International's GREEN UP (f, 3, Upstart–Green Punch, by Two Punch) improved off a debut second for previous connections and galloped her six overmatched rivals into the ground, earning 'TDN Rising Star' honors in the process. Having dramatically outrun odds of 25-1 to be runner-up at Chruchill Downs last May to the subsequently stakes-placed Ontheonesandtwos (Jimmy Creed) for owner Leonard Mattingly and trainer Chris Melton, the $10,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearling graduate was acquired by these high-profile connections and a five-furlong bullet at Palm Beach Downs (5f in 1:01 Mar. 6) had the Virginia-bred sitting on ready. Off to an uneventful beginning for the in-form Irad Ortiz, Jr., Green Up tracked longshot pacesetter Teasing (Tapit)–a full-sister to GI Belmont S. winner Tapwrit–through solid opening splits. Easing alongside that one as the quarter pole loomed, Green Up quickly put daylight on her rivals and stopped the timer in 1:10.04 while never asked through the final eighth of a mile. The May 9 foal is out of an unplaced half-sister to the solid Midlantic handicap horse Just Call Kenny (Jump Start)–also a paternal grandson of A.P. Indy–who counted the GIII Philip H. Iselin S. as his major career victory and who won the 2014 Spectacular Bid S. over this main track. Green Up holds an entry for the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks. Green Up is the second Rising Star for Upstart, who is already represented on the Oaks trail by GII Davona Dale S. heroine Kathleen O. Sales history: $10,000 Ylg '20 FTMOCT. O-Team Valor International; B-Althea Richards (VA); T-Todd Pletcher.

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