(April 9. 2009) - Coby Tresner’s six-year-old gelding Upstream, trained by Allen Milligan, withstood a bold late challenge to win the 13th running of the $50,000 Premiere Stakes by a nose over the Steve Asmussen-conditioned Ablaze With Spirit. It was another two-and-a-quarter lengths back to long shot Windy Lou in third.

Ridden by Martin Escobar, Upstream was alert from the break and sat a comfortable trip while racing three-wide around the first turn. After sitting just off of the early pacesetters behind fractions of 24.49, 49.36, and 1:15.10, the Chestnut son of Open Forum surged to the lead around the far turn. When Ablaze with Spirit came calling for the lead at the top of the stretch, Upstream repelled the challenge the length of the lane before stopping the teletimer in 1:41.37 for the one-mile journey over a fast main track.

"I told the owner when we claimed this horse last November that we’d win this race with him,” said winning trainer Allen Milligan. “Martin rode him perfect and this horse ran super."

With the win, Upstream earned $30,000 to increase his lifetime winnings to $273,820. It was his ninth win from 34 career starts.

Upstream paid $8.00, $4.40, $3.40, runner-up Ablaze With Spirit returned $4.20, $3.40, and Windy Lou paid $9.80 for show. Dusty Tunnel, Dreamsandvisions, Goosey Moose, Crook’s Stinger, Justaclown, Theatrical’s Halo, Super Itron, Red Birds Magician, and Eye Wonder completed the order of finish.