Union Rags takes last year's Saratoga Special.

The role of Kentucky Derby favorite had been contested until today, but in just 1:42.68 Union Rags ($4.40) showed that he is a one to beat in a tour de force four length victory over six opponents in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes from Gulfstream Park.

Union Rags could not have been any more impressive in his 2012 debut. Julien Leparoux was a statue in the stirrups and merely threw a few a crosses at the colt before he blasted away from second place finisher News Pending. The son of Dixie Union has matured beautifully for trainer Michael Matz.

“You never know after a four-month rest – Do you have the horse fit enough? Did you do this? Did you do that? You always go through 51 questions,” Matz said. “I guess we did it right this time.”

As hard as it is to believe, Union Rags was the second choice in this race at 6-5. The role of favorite went to Florida bred Discreet Dancer. He made the lead before tiring near the top of the stretch.

“There were no real excuses,” Pletcher said. “We got the trip we wanted and he just finished evenly.”

At this moment in time, Union Rags is far and away the best three-year-old in the country. His foes have a lot of catching up to do and very little time in which to do it. It’s catch him if you can; and you probably cant.

Look for Union Rags next out in the Florida Derby. Oh, and to his competition; bring your best running shoes.

Algorithms

The Grade 2 $400k Fountain of Youth Stakes (Gulfstream Park|Race 11|Sunday) has been quite productive in recent years. Among its winners are great horses like Eskendereya, Quality Road, Scat Daddy, and Kentucky Derby winner Thunder Gulch. 2012 has produced a group with not one, but three horses capable of joining the ranks of the heralded horses above. Let’s break down the mile and sixteenth race!

Discreet Dancer (Discreet Dancer x West Side Dancer by Gone West), from the barn of Todd Pletcher, won his first two race by a combined 15 and a quarter lengths and was ridden out in both efforts. He’s got plenty of early sizzle and should be on or near the lead in this spot. John Velazquez gets the mount from JJ Castellano who gave up this ride, along with Union Rags, to stay on Algorithms.

This type of horse is so tough to get a read on. He’s clearly very talented, but has faced next to nothing thus far in his young career. Discreet Dancer could win this thing by a few lengths or get burned up on the front and finish fourth. This will be his first time going two turns and that isn’t easy for any horse to do; especially against graded stakes winners. I’m going to lean against him while acknowledging that he stands plenty of chance to make me look like an idiot.

Algorithms (Bernardini x Avaknowsthecode by Cryptoclearance), another Todd Pletcher trainee, is a push button horse with a devastating turn of foot. That’s part of the reason why jockey JJ Castellano chose him over Union Rags. JJ is winning everything in sight right now and will give this one a great ride.

Like Discreet Dancer, this is his first time going two turns. That is countered by the fact that Algorithms is due for a peak effort racing third off the layoff. It’s tough to say how good he is, but I really love his running style and late kick. Bettors that back this colt are getting perhaps the best jockey going right now and a tremendously fast untested runner.

I usually don’t like layoff horses in a race like this, but Union Rags (Dixie Union x Tempo by Gone West) is a special case. The hulking colt stands 17 hands tall and has already proved he can run huge in a situation like this one. Trainer Michael Matz says the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes winner is as ready as he could possible be and the works are strong.

The setup of the race could work in favor of the versatile Union Rags. He can be near the pace or come from the back. It’s going to be interesting to see what new jockey Julien Leparoux decides upon. It could make the difference in winning and losing.

It’s tough to separate Discreet Dancer, Algorithms, and Union Rags. This could all come down to the decisions made by the jockeys. I’m going to go with Union Rags as my pick. He figures to sit the best trip behind the speed. Not only that, but he is the proven commodity. You wont get a huge price, but if you’re brave enough to single him on the Pick 4 or 5 it would make a huge difference.

Much is unknown heading into the Fountain of Youth, but a new Kentucky Derby favorite could emerge when the dust settles. Win or lose, this is the type of event that horse racing fans anticipate for days in advance. I cant wait to watch!

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This weekend of racing at Gulfstream will be one of the best of the young year. The horses are on full tilt as they try to progress toward their respective goals such as the Florida Derby and then the Kentucky Derby. We have covered the races extensively this week. Some of the horses we like are listed below.

Davona Dale Stakes: Dancinginherdreams (5-2)

Hutcheson Stakes: Manicero (12-1)

Fountain of Youth Stakes: Soldat (2-1)

Earlier this week Archarcharch won the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park and paid $31 to win as our top selection. It is our hope and expectation to continue winning into the weekend at Gulfstream. You can join along and get all of our picks and plays from Gulfstream for Saturday at the affordable price of $9.99. The following is included in your picks package.

• Top pick to win every race from Gulfstream Park on Saturday 2/26/11
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• Pick 4, Pick 5 and Pick 6 plays

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The Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes has been an excellent prep for the Florida Derby and subsequently the Kentucky Derby. The 1 1/8 miles race for three-year-olds has produced names like Eskendereya, Quality Road, Pulpit, Thunder Gulch, Dehere and Forty Niner.

The 2011 Fountain of Youth field looks stellar, but living up to the careers of the above names wont be easy. There are a few who look as if they could be up to the task though. Let’s glance at the field.

#1 Soldat- Rated third overall on our list of Kentucky Derby contenders following a breath taking 10 3/4 length win over allowances horses last out in the slop. Before that he was second beaten a length by Pluck in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin says he is doing very well. His works back that statement up. I’m never happy about a horse being on the rail, but I think he wont be bothered by it. Alan Garcia has to make sure he breaks well. If he does that and sits a good stalking trip he is, in my mind, the horse to beat.

#2 Gourmet Dinner- Turned in a very sharp 34 4/5 H three furlong bullet over the track this week. In his last race, the Holy Bull, he was nipped for second by a late running Sweet Ducky. The Holy Bull is already proving to be a strong race as Mucho Macho Man returned to win the Risen Star last week. I believe this colt is getting better and he will love the extra distance. Throw in the fact that Ramon Dominguez gets the mount and he is the main threat to my top choice, Soldat.

#3 El Grayling- Mike Maker has got a sharp looking son of El Prado here. Rajiv Maragh picks up the mount. He was last seen finishing third behind Casper’s Touch and Shackleford who are also entered here. One thing going for him is that we know he can get the distance. However, is he good enough?

#4 Casper’s Touch- Looked sharp breaking his maiden back in November at Churchill Downs. After that race he finished second to Shackleford in an allowance where he was rank and had a poor trip. He is working well and Ken McPeek has got Alex Solis to ride. He will be flying late and if he improves he may even win this thing.

#5 Bowman’s Causeway- I’m no fan of Patrick Biancone, but this colt looks live. He was my second choice last out when he broke his maiden at odds of 13.5-1. The son of Giant’s Causeway sat off the pace and pounced in the stretch beating a strong field of 10. Biancone has a tendency to run horses over their head and he may be biting off more than he can chew with this one. Make no mistake though, the talent is there.

#6 Racing Aptitude- Back to the dirt for a horse that ran poorly on the surface in his first two starts. It looks like he can go the distance though. Perhaps he can pick up fourth with some luck. I don’t see much better than that happening for him though.

#7 To Honor And Serve- This guy is the rock star of the race. He has won three races in a row including the Nasha Stakes and Remsen Stakes. Expect for Johnny Velazquez to get him to the front where he could have company. This is his first race in months and I will look for him to get tired in the stretch as a heavy favorite. I don’t like his chances much at all and this is one of the best play against horses I have seen all year.

#8 Shackleford- Winner of his last 2 after finishing 9th of 12 in the debut. I don’t like him much, but his presence is important nonetheless. He has plenty of early speed and should push the favorite through quick fractions.

To recap I am going with Soldat as my top selection with Gourmet Dinner a not too far away second choice. I will include Casper’s Touch on Pick 4 ticket as well. To Honor And Serve is going to be short in this race. Bank on that.

Who do you like in the Fountain of Youth Stakes?

The Fountain of Youth Stakes served as a “coming out” party of sorts for Quality Road in 2009. He would use the race as a springboard for a win in the Florida Derby. The field was very strong last year and is just as strong in 2010. Jackson Bend and Buddy’s Saint figure to get most of the money. Buddy’s Saint is making his three-year-old debut after a strong win in the Remsen at 2, and Jackson Bend was last seen running second in the Holy Bull Stakes. Let’s take a look at the field.

Eskendereya looks like the speed of the speed for trainer Todd Pletcher. The son of Giant’s Causeway is a perfect two for two on dirt tracks. He was last seen winning an allowance at Gufstream Park. He is training very well and will have John Velazquez in the irons. Stablemate Aikenite is also entered here. He ran 6th in the Holy Bull in his last start. Pletcher was quoted that the extra distance today will help his cause.

Trainer Nick Zito will send out Jackson Bend and Ice Box. The latter won an allowance in his last start. Joe Bravo will pick up the mount on the son of Pulpit. Jackson Bend turned many heads when he swept the Florida Stallion Stakes. He was so impressive that Robert LaPenta privately purchased him. He is sired by Hear No Evil. The colt was super impressive last out when he finished second to Winslow Homer in the  Holy Bull. He had a bad trip and had to endure brutal fractions. He should have a huge shot to win here.

Buddy’s Saint is a son of the ill fated Saint Liam who died shortly after  beginning his career at stud. He has showed tons of ability so far with huge wins in the Nashua Stakes and Remsen Stakes at 2. If he has improved since those efforts its going to be scary to see how good he is. Jose Lezcano will retain the mount for Bruce Levine. It would come as no shock if he won this race.

Lost Aptitude will be switching to dirt from turf for trainer Dale Romans. The son of Aptitude has never run a bad race on the turf, but its hard to know how he will do on the dirt. He won the Grand Canyon Handicap at Churchill Downs in November. He just missed winning the Grade 3 Tropical Park Derby in his last start where he ended up second. Rajiv Maragh will get the mount.

Mike Smith will be in to ride Pulsion for Patrick Biancone. He finished second in the Grade 1 Norfolk behind Lookin at Lucky, but couldnt put it together in the Breeders Cup Juvenile where he finished 11th. He is working very strongly, but will need a fast pace in order to have a chance.

Pleasant Prince, Prince Will I Am, and Positive Split round out the field. Who do you like in the Fountain of Youth Stakes?