Issue link: http://nytbreeders.epubxp.com/i/471532
8 New York Breeder | nytbreeders.org | March 2015 News NEW YORK LAUREN KING/COGLIANESE PHOTO LOU HODGES JR./HODGES PHOTOGRAPHY TRIPLE CROWN TRAIL TEEMING WITH NEW YORK-BREDS N ew York-bred 3-year-olds are competing at the highest level on the 2015 Triple Crown trail. Dramatic evidence of that came in the span of just a few hours Feb. 21. At Gulfstream Park, Ralph Evans' Upstart fnished frst in the Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) but was later disqualifed and placed second behind Itsaknockout. Less than two hours later Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Interna - tional Star won the $400,000 Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) by a length at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Upstart, winner of the Jan. 24 Lambholm South Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III), was the 9-10 choice in the Fountain of Youth. The son of Flatter was bred in New York by Joanne Nielsen and is out of her Touch Gold mare Party Silks. (For more on Nielsen, see the cover story on page 24.) Despite being disqualifed and placed second, Upstart re - mains a leading candidate for the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). Trainer Rick Violette Jr. suggested the next start for Upstart will be either the Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I) at Gulfstream March 28 or the TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial Stakes (gr. I) at Aqueduct April 4. Last year Violette got New York-bred Samraat to the Twin Spires for the Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs. International Star took the Risen Star after winning the Jan. 17 Lecomte Stakes (gr. III) at the New Orleans track by 2 1 ⁄2 lengths. He'll likely be a horse to be reckoned with in the $1 million Louisiana Derby (gr. II). He was bred in New York by Katharine Voss and Robert Manfuso, who own Chanceland Farm in Maryland. They bred their French Deputy mare Parlez to Fusaichi Pegasus and foaled in New York to take advantage of the state-bred program. They bred Parlez back to then New York-based Girolamo. The Ramseys purchased International Star through Patrice Miller/EQB at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic fall yearling sale. There is plenty of upside to International Star's pedigree. Parlez' second dam is Halory, dam of Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. II) winner Halory Hunter, grade III winners Brushed Halory, Prory, and Key Lory, as well as group II win - ner Van Nistelrooy, a $6.4 million sale yearling who was also group I-placed at 2. "She's got a wonderful family looking back," Voss said. "It's tough to get into those families, so we kind of peck away. "Parlez herself was strictly two-turn. She wasn't that fast, but she tried hard. Most of her foals have been neat, balanced, not-real-big horses. They are just like Parlez is." International Star may not be a "real-big horse," but he's turning out to be a big deal on the Triple Crown trail. Upstart fnishes frst in Gulfstream Park's Fountain of Youth International Star hugs the rail in winning the Risen Star at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots TO ACCESS THE 2014 ANNUAL REPORT, GO TO: http://www.nybreds.com/reports-flings/