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

[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.