Yaupon

Yaupon did not begin his racing career until June of his 3-year-old season, winning a three-quarter-mile sprint at Churchill Downs by a nose. He followed with a runaway victory by 3 ¾ lengths July 8 at Saratoga Race Course, where he led from start to finish in another sprint.

Trainer Steve Asmussen tested the Uncle Mo colt against stakes competition in his third start and he acquitted himself nicely in the Grade 2 Amsterdam Stakes Aug. 29 at the Spa. Yaupon opened a clear early lead and won by two lengths as the 7-5 favorite on a muddy (sealed) track in 1:08.50 for three-quarters of a mile.

Making his next start in the Grade 3 Chick Lang Stakes Oct. 1 at Pimlico, Yaupon set a pressured pace under John Velazquez and powered well clear in the stretch in his way to a four-length victory as the 3-5 favorite.

Yaupon's 2020 season ended with a disappointing performance as the favorite in the Breeders' Cup Sprint on Nov. 7. After an unplaced performance in Dubai, he bounced back with a win in the Lite the Fuse Stakes at Pimlico on July 4. In the Grade 1 Forego Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 28, he won in a determined stretch battle with Firenze Fire, despite that rival's attempts to savage him in the stretch. 

Grade 1-placed winner Modification, by Vindication, is the dam (mother) of Yaupon.