On the road to the 2012 Kentucky Derby

[Glimmerglass]

Algorithms scratched from what had been today’s (2/26) [url=" http://www.drf.com/news/gulfstream-park-algorithms-scratched-fountain-youth-popped-splint"]much anticipated Fountain of Youth with popped splint!

“It’s nothing serious, but Todd just doesn’t feel comfortable running him today,” said Wolf, principal partner in Starlight Racing.

Algorithms has won all three of his starts, including the Grade 3 Holy Bull in which he handed Eclipse Award winner Hansen his only defeat. With Algorithms out, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile runner-up Union Rags is expected to go postward the favorite in the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth.

[Glimmerglass]

Saturday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds proved to a rather solid race with drama right to the finish. It almost was a victory for FG’s leading rider at the meet Rosie Napravnik on a virtual unknown Larry Jones trained horse.

Replay available here

[The horse] Mark Valeski ran a sensational race in defeat. He had just three prior starts, and the Risen Star marked his stakes debut and first race around two turns.

“First time going long. What kind of racehorse is he?” said an excited Cindy Jones, the wife and assistant of Larry Jones, who trains Mark Valeski.

The Jones stable’s other runner, Mr. Bowling, finished last of 11. He had won the Lecomte Stakes here last month.

“I have no clue why he ran like that,” Larry Jones said.

Did anyone see El Padrino (“The Godfather” in Spanish) do that 2’ bunny jump to the right when the girth was tightened? Thankfully no body was hurt.

Regarding today’s Fountain of Youth Stakes, for those without HRTV note that the Daily Racing Form is showing it on-line for free here - the race goes off at approx 4:10 pm EST.

[frugalannie]

WOW! Nice race for Union Rags.

I was geting antsy earlier because I couldn’t seem to get the video, but figured it out just in time. Thanks for the heads up, Glimmerglass!

[Drvmb1ggl3]

Get your money on now in the KY Derby futures. Union Rags is da horse to beat. Easily beat the FOY field, and still looked like he could improve.

[Flashy_Gray_VA]

Checking texts from various racing friends:

“Impressive”
“Awesome”
“Unbelievably easy”
“Holy Cow”
“Glad I got in on the future wager when I did” :lol:

The big horse broke beautifully, listened well to Julien, and had gas in the tank to spare. Connections have to be thrilled!

[Mali]

[QUOTE=Flashy Gray VA;6164421]
Checking texts from various racing friends:

“Impressive”
“Awesome”
“Unbelievably easy”
“Holy Cow”
“Glad I got in on the future wager when I did” :lol:

The big horse broke beautifully, listened well to Julien, and had gas in the tank to spare. Connections have to be thrilled![/QUOTE]

My favorite quote came from the broadcast crew on the Gulfstream website “He looks like a man among boys”.

And what a man he is

[Glimmerglass]

I happily hit the exacta for today’s FOY race $2 exacta (7-6) paid $62.20. That made up for the unexpected poor showing (3rd) of the old man Musketier in the 10th race. From the AP story - no replay up yet on youtube:

With Julien Leparoux aboard for the first time, Union Rags was never struck with the whip when prevailing by four lengths over News Pending. Discreet Dancer was 2 1/2 lengths farther back, holding off Neck 'n Neck by a half-length for third.

Union Rags, owned by Chadds Ford Stable and trained by Michael Matz, returned $4.40 to win after finishing the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:42.68 over a fast track.

“I’m just so happy right now,” said Matz. “It’s just great to be back.”

[Flashy_Gray_VA]

Congrats, GG.

Musketier looked pretty gallant coming up the rail for third, though he was well-beaten. He didn’t look a day over 9! Neat old horse.

[CVPeg]

Right now, if you go to the main page of Bloodhorse.com, it’s right on the front page. Just scroll down until you see the screen for it on the left.

“Matz… made it clear he did not have Union Rags fully cranked for his first start of the year.”

(Unfortunately, of course, they had to ask him how he compared to Barbaro. For The Bloodhorse, I think publishing that question and answer is really pretty amateurish.)

Read more: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/67670/union-rags-gallops-away-in-fountain-of-youth#ixzz1nXHY3D5X

[Glimmerglass]

Gulfstream Park: youtube 2012 Fountain of Youth - replay

(Yep - 10-yr old Musketier is one of my favorite old men of the turf!)

ETA - Julien’s tweet @ 5:36pm

WOW!!! That was amazing.

[Glimmerglass]

Nice photo of Julien up on Rags in the FOY (image courtesy of Gulfstream Park’s FB page)

[Andrew]

[QUOTE=CVPeg;6164507]
Right now, if you go to the main page of Bloodhorse.com, it’s right on the front page. Just scroll down until you see the screen for it on the left.

“Matz… made it clear he did not have Union Rags fully cranked for his first start of the year.”

(Unfortunately, of course, they had to ask him how he compared to Barbaro. For The Bloodhorse, I think publishing that question and answer is really pretty amateurish.)

Read more: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/67670/union-rags-gallops-away-in-fountain-of-youth#ixzz1nXHY3D5X[/QUOTE]

I belive on Wednesday/Thursday MM was interviewed on HRTV and HE was compairing Barbaro and Union Rags. you can search the archives and see the interview & comments. Back in the day MM was ALWASYS asked after Jet Run retired to compare his current mounts to Jet.

[Mali]

Aw c’mon, why can’t we just skip comparing him to Barbaro, and just get right to comparing him to Secretariat? There, I put my toe in the water…and said it.

[Mali]

[QUOTE=Mali;6164622]
Aw c’mon, why can’t we just skip comparing him to Barbaro, and just get right to comparing him to Secretariat? There, I put my toe in the water…and said it. [/QUOTE]

OH, and just for giggles - we can compare Algorithms to Sham

[Glimmerglass]

The Daily Racing Form asks: “If the Fountain of Youth was a prep, what can Union Rags really do?”

Union Rags made a shambles of the mile and one-sixteenth Fountain of Youth, drawing off to an extremely impressive four-length victory over News Pending that was even easier than the final margin might suggest. The performance clearly establishes Union Rags, who had not started since suffering his only setback in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile nearly four months earlier, as the current Kentucky Derby favorite.

Matz said the next stop for Union Rags, as has been the plan all winter, will be the Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby at 1 1/8 miles here on March 31.

[Rubyfree]

God, I hate saying this before March… or April… or May for that matter because I just jinx myself- but he does look like the real dam* deal.

After the last few years it’s sort of nice to have a serious contender tossing down the gauntlet this early. That wide blaze and white in the eye remind anyone of a certain filly? A filly who, y’know, looked like a man amongst girls? :lol:

[tradewind]

Impressive race and physicaly he has really matured…quite the specimen. Hope all goes well for him and his team going forward.

[Flashy_Gray_VA]

In G2 Risen Star Stakes news, the El Padrino horsey “Godfather” tee is hilarious:

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-131807662934531_2199_12144667

[Glimmerglass]

Runner up in the Grade-2 Risen Star (to El Padrino - “the Godfather”) - Mark Valeski was fetching Vegas future odds of 300-1 when it opened and as of 2-22-12 (the last published Wynn Encore odds) he was at 85-1. Obviously he’ll drop a great deal more having shown that much grit and determination. By comparison prior to the Risen Star El Padrino was at 18-1.

Expect to see a rematch in the Grade 2 $1 Million Louisiana Derby April 1.

In a press box speaker phone interview from South Florida, Pletcher seemed to think the long stretch run at Fair Grounds is ideal for El Padrino’s style and, while not committing to a specific engagement, thought the Louisiana Derby would be a prime option.

One of the many comments from this past weekend’s racing - this regarding “what we learned”:

It’s not as if we didn’t already know this, but Optimizer wants to run on the grass. This is his second bad effort in a row on the dirt as he finished ninth here and was up the track before this one in the Smarty Jones Stakes. Trainer D Wayne Lukas is dead set on making it to the Kentucky Derby, but this one isn’t going to take him there. Coach, get him back on grass where he can compete against top three year olds. It’s not happening on dirt; not now or ever.

(Optimizer as of today has $81,375 in graded earnings and sits at #35)

What is the landscape now with the additional graded stakes races run? Not much of a shuffle as Union Rags was already sitting on a boatload of cash and The Godfather also was in the top 30. He (El Padrino) is now #11@ $200,000. Full list below:

TC Nominated horses ranked by Graded Stakes Earnings - 2/27

Next weekend there is only one graded stakes race: Saturday March 3rd’s Grade 3, $400,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct. The Gotham is limited to 14 starters and initial suggestions are for nearly a full house - however expect to see a lot of runners falling into the ‘swing for the fences, testing the waters, and just looking for some of that purses money’ category. Hansen will be the big gun in the race and with his last work as solid as it was he shouldn’t be scared of any named cited.

[Glimmerglass]

Expect Nick Zito trainee - Casual Trick to reappear in the Florida Derby despite the poor effort in the FOY:

Trainer Nick Zito reported Monday that Casual Trick, who finished seventh in the Fountain of Youth, displaced his palate during the race will require minor throat surgery. Zito said Casual Trick also displaced during his previous race.

“It’s a mechanical issue that needs to be fixed,” said Zito. “It’s a minor procedure, and he should be back to the track shortly.”

I liked the honest remark by Ian Wilkes with 4th place finisher Neck ‘n Neck

“He’s still a little green and making mistakes, but I was happy with his race and he’ll learn from the experience,” said Wilkes. “You can’t make those types of mistakes against good horses, although even without any mistakes we couldn’t have beaten Michael’s horse if we rode in the back of a truck.”

All is good with Union Rags (cited as being 17hhs now at 3) this morning Union Rags, who received a 95 Beyer Speed Figure for the Fountain of Youth. Per Michael Matz "… he galloped out strong. He really only ran the last quarter-mile, if that, and from the looks of him today the race doesn’t appear to have taken anything out of him.”