It is revenge time for Union Rags against Hansen in the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park
The rivalry that started at the backend of the 2011 season is set to continue this year. As Hansen and Union Rags enter their sophomore season, the sparks will fly once again as they did last time around when the two met at the highest level in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs on 5 November, 2011.
The Michael Maker trained colt, Hansen displayed a magnificent gate to wire victory in the all important 1 1/16 mile test, while Union Rags tracked the rampant colt with will and determination, but ran out of stretch and time to concede defeat by a head’s distance.
Putting salt on Union Rags’ wounds when Hansen notched the Eclipse Award from Michael Matz trained colt for 2-year-old champion.
The result surprised many, though Hansen ended his juvenile season unbeaten with a Breeders’ Cup win, Union Rags on the other hand, lost to Hansen, finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup, but before that, won the Grade 2 Saratoga Special and the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes.
“To be honest, I was surprised it was such a landslide,” said Matz. “If winning the Breeders’ Cup is the criterion for winning the Eclipse Award than that’s the way it is. It would have been nice to have won the award but it is what it is and it’s over now. It’s not the end of the world. And I’m pretty sure of one thing, there will be a rematch.”
The rematch is right on the corner, and the two Kentucky Derby strong prospects will lock horns for the first time this year in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park on 26 February, 2012, at about 1 1/16 miles on dirt.
It will be Union Rags’ first target after his hard luck defeat by Hansen. He continues to progress nicely towards his return, and turned in four furlongs in 49.63 seconds at Palm Meadows under exercise rider Peter Brett.
“He worked real well,” said Matz. “He broke off nicely and kind of picked it up each eighth of a mile, galloped out real good, and came out of it well, Peter said it was nothing for him to do it.”
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