2/26 (GP): Fountain of Youth S., Mac Diamida S. (G2's)

[RockHardTen1985]

Ok so I have been a Union Rags hater, I lost money trying to beat him today and I just have not really believed in him. All I can say is WOW. Push button around the turn with that burst. If he moves forward off this Im not sure whos beating him.

[my miss storm cat]

Very very impressive!

Congrats too to the Simmard connections. He doesn't win much and I didn't have him in the top spot but always nice to see such a hard-tryer get it right.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

Very very impressive!

Congrats too to the Simmard connections. He doesn't win much and I didn't have him in the top spot but always nice to see such a hard-tryer get it right.

Simmard was game as they come. Newsdad had several chances to pass him and Simmard kept holding.

[Indian Charlie]

I thought the Flower Alley horse from the rail ran a nice race in the FOY.

That horse gets no respect at the windows.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

I thought the Flower Alley horse from the rail ran a nice race in the FOY.

That horse gets no respect at the windows.

I like him too. Had plenty of early trouble to recover from. Was eager inside & with the blinks. Anxious to hear what Wilkes says.

[Kasept]

At first glance, it looks like Union Rags finished up in :30.1..

[El Padrino]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye6ux...layer_embedded

[citycat]

Originally Posted by Kasept

I like him too. Had plenty of early trouble to recover from. Was eager inside & with the blinks. Anxious to hear what Wilkes says.

He was actually my pick for the race but when he got pinched on the first turn its usually over with this caliber of horses. I thoght he recovered nicely. Do you think a Flower Alley can get the Derby distance?

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by citycat

He was actually my pick for the race but when he got pinched on the first turn its usually over with this caliber of horses. I thoght he recovered nicely. Do you think a Flower Alley can get the Derby distance?

First, my own leanings say sires deliver speed, dams stamina. But Flower Alley himself won a Travers, so 10f was within his own grasp. Neck 'n Neck is out of Mr. Miles' own homebred Storm Boot mare Bootery who was a $100k earning miler that Wilkes trained. Her dam was by Runaway Groom and further back the female family is loaded with stamina influences including Broad Brush, Roberto and Sea Bird. If Flower Alley has any disposition to get classic distance route-goers, this family should have what he needs to bring it out.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

Ok so I have been a Union Rags hater, I lost money trying to beat him today and I just have not really believed in him. All I can say is WOW. Push button around the turn with that burst. If he moves forward off this Im not sure whos beating him.

Indicative of how times have change:

Union Rags has nearly achieved world-beater status for his romp in the Fountain Of Youth today.

Twenty years ago, 2yo champion Fly So Free was being downgraded for his performance in the same race, despite winning the Fountain Of Youth by 6 lengths. Never mind, he had also easily won the Hutcheson in his 3yo debut previously. In the FOY, Jose Santos had to resort to using the whip aggressively to get the horse in gear, and this was taken as a sign of decline.

Ironically, Fly So Free subsequently won the Florida Derby...and his reputation suffered even more. Winning in a paltry 1:50+ for the 9f, the naysayers pointed to the final time as further proof that he wasn't winning the Kentucky Derby. As ridiculous as that sounds for a champion colt that had won every major stakes at Gulfstream, they were justified in their conviction (Fly So Free ran a modest 5th in the Derby at over 3-1).

It was a tougher crowd back then, probably because there were better horses running...and lots of them.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by Cardus

The game was so much different then -- as you know -- that Fly So Free ran in the Colin Stakes at 9F on Belmont Stakes Day. (He won, and might have rolled, if memory serves.)

It was actually the 7f Riva Ridge, but he did win easily. However, he was never consistent afterwards, either sprinting or routing. He flopped in the Dwyer in his next start.

Hansel started the year getting crushed in the FOY (5th by 11) and the Florida Derby (3rd by 5). Imagine such performances nowadays...he'd be written off completely.