The term "confident ride" is a popular phrase to describe a jockey's performance on a horse that wins easily against an over-matched field. In today's Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park, jockey Julien Leparoux gave Union Rags the textbook definition of a "confident ride". Union Rags, sent to post as the 6/5 second choice (Discreet Dancer went off as the 4/5 favorite), stalked a moderate pace in the down the backstretch while racing about four wide off of the rail. Leparoux sat almost motionless as Union Rags began to close ground on Discreet Dancer and News Pending midway on the far turn. By the time the trio got to the top of the stretch, all the momentum was with Union Rags as he powered past his two helpless rivals. Leparoux never needed to go to his stick as Union Rags pulled away to win by four lengths at the wire.
Longshot News Pending finished two lengths ahead of favorite Discreet Dancer to take the place spot, while Neck 'n Neck rounded out the superfecta.
With his win in the Fountain of Youth, Union Rags solidified himself as one of the top contenders for the 2012 Kentucky Derby. While every horse faces distance question leading up to the Derby, there's no denying that Union Rags is an immensely talented colt who appears to have developed nicely over the winter.
Union Rags is a three-year-old colt by Dixie Union out of a Gone West mare (Tempo) trained by Michael Matz.
Below are the payouts, Trakus fractions and distance data, and a link to the video from today's Fountain of Youth. I'll have more analysis of this race, and all of this weekend's action, on Monday.
Fountain of Youth Race Replay (via Gulfstream Park's YouTube page)
WIN: 7-Union Rags ($4.40, $3.20, $2.10)
PLACE: 6-News Pending ($10.80, $3.60)
SHOW: 5-Discreet Dancer ($2.10)
$2 Exacta: $62.20
$1 Trifecta: $62.90
$1 Superfecta: $280.70
$2 Daily Double: $31.00
$1 Pick 3: $258.50
Trakus Fractions:
1/4: 24.38
1/2: 47.70
3/4: 1:11.79
Mile: 1:35.95
Finish: 1:42.39
Trakus Internal Splits:
1/4: 24.38
1/2: 23.32
3/4: 24.09
Mile: 24.16
Finish: 6.44
Union Rags Trakus Internal Splits:
1/4: 24.53
1/2: 23.46
3/4: 24.15
Mile: 23.81
Finish: 6.44
Trakus Distance Traveled
| Horse | Feet | +/- |
| Union Rags | 5709 | |
| News Pending | 5699 | -10.00 |
| Discreet Dancer | 5665 | -44.00 |
| Neck 'n Neck | 5703 | -6.00 |
| Fort Loudon | 5691 | -18.00 |
| Csaba | 5688 | -21.00 |
| Casual Trick | 5672 | -37.00 |