Upstart also has ties to Darien, home of the Nielsen family, whose members also own Sunnyfield Farm in Bedford, N.Y., where the horse was bred.
The thoroughbred has fans beyond Connecticut. The odds on Upstart sat at a favorable 15-1 as of Friday evening in the field of 20 horses.
His trainer, quoted at NJ.com, likes Upstart's chances.
"He's run fast enough to win the Derby, numbers-wise, sheets-wise, and he's trained great coming into this," trainer Rick Violette said. "I don't think I could change anything for the bettor, if I wanted to.''
Another horse with ties to Connecticut, Keen Ice, is a long shot at 50-1. He is owned by a racing conglomerate that includes two men from North Haven.
Post time for the Kentucky Derby is 6:24 p.m. The race is set for 6:43 p.m. Television coverage begins at 4 p.m. on NBC. Click here for Upstart's profile on the Kentucky Derby website and here for Upstart's Facebook page.
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