Union Rags all set for his seasonal debut in the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park
Phyllis M. Wyeth and Chadds Ford Stable’s Union Rags has to forget about being the runner up to Hansen, in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs last year, and also being runner up to the same runner in voting at the Eclipse Awards, when Hansen was crowned the juvenile champion over Union Rags.
It takes a single race to derail a perfect season, and Hansen learnt that the hard way when in his seasonal debut start in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes, he was set aside with ease by Algorithms, to win the race by four lengths over a mile on Gulfstream Park’s dirt course on 29 January, 2012.
The juvenile champion had a disadvantage as he stumbled coming out of the gate, but it wasn’t too bad because he shook it off and grabbed the lead straight away, thought it can be argued that the track was sealed and wet.
Second place in his sophomore start isn’t bad by any means, and that automatically translates into a tough seasonal debut for Union Rags, who is on a collision course toward his old nemesis, Hansen, in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes on 26 February, 2012, at Gulfstream Park on dirt.
With both of them being considered as the early red hot favourites for the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, the Fountain of Youth, after Hansen’s loss in the Holy Bull, has become doubly difficult, but it’s a test that Union Rags has to pass, if he is to survive in this tough division with the Triple Crown on the line.
For that, Union Rags is preparing on his end as he worked five furlongs in 1 minute and 2 3/5 seconds at Palm Meadows, on 31 January, 2012.
According to DRF clockers, Union Rags’ work was split in two, covering the opening quarter mile in 25 2/3 seconds, and then his five furlong breeze in 37 4/5 seconds.
He then galloped out six furlongs to go with it, clocked in 1 minute and 15 2/5 seconds. The bay colt is on target and well on course for a rematch in the Fountain of Youth Stakes against Hansen.
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