Union Rags Wins Fountain of Youth Stakes

Union Rags was dominant as he
landed the Fountain of Youth Stakes
at Gulfstream Park Sunday

Kentucky Derby favourite Union Rags was in action at Gulfstream on Sunday in the $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes.

It was his first run since a very unlucky second to Hansen in the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile back in November in which he covered about 77ft more than the winner during the race and went down by the shortest of distances.

The Grade 2 Fountain of Youth had been billed as a showdown between Union Rags and another leading Kentucky Derby hope Algorithms, the morning line favourite for the race; however the unbeaten Algorithms was an 11th hour scratching after reportedly injuring a splint bone in his right front leg.

Union Rags still didn’t go off favourite though, with Algorithms' trainer Todd Pletcher’s other horse Discreet Dancer – also unbeaten – getting that honour.

As the race unfolded though the 6-5 that Union Rags was allowed to go off at looked a steal as he cruised past the pace-setting Discreet Dancer after being sent after him on the far turn to score by 4 lengths from News Pending, with Discreet Dancer fading in to a well beaten third.

The manner of Union Rags victory was impressive to say the least, winning under a hands and heels ride from new jockey Julien Leparoux. In a cruel twist, regular jockey Javier Castellano had earlier elected to ride the scratched Algorithms rather than the winner.

After the race Union Rags’ trainer Michael Matz, who won the Kentucky Derby in 2006 with Barbaro, indicated that the $1million Florida Derby (won last year by Dialed In) on 31st March will likely be next on the agenda for his hugely talented colt before a tilt at the Louisville classic in May.

Union Rags is has come in to 4.1 on Betfair now for the Kentucky Derby having previously been around the 10.0 mark, while Timeform have raised his rating from 123 to 124 putting him 6lb and more ahead of his likely rivals for the Derby.

I fancied this horse for the Kentucky Derby after the Breeder’s Cup last year and this dominant performance has cemented those sentiments. Union Rags certainly looks a force to be reckoned with after kicking off his three-year-old campaign in such an eye-catching way.