Union Rags dominated the $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Sunday, bolstering his credentials as one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby.
The anticipated duel of the top two favorites in Derby future betting failed to materialize when morning-line favorite Algorithms was scratched because of a popped splint in his right-front leg.
Trained by Michael Matz, Union Rags won his first race since he lost to Hansen by a head in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5. The son of Dixie Union finished four lengths ahead of News Pending, a 27-1 long shot ridden by Kent Desormeaux.
''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 told track's publicity department. ''I guess we did it right this time.''
With Julien Leparoux aboard, Union Rags made a three-wide move coming out of the backstretch and took the lead on the turn. He then pulled away for his fourth victory in five starts.
''I was hoping he would run a good race, but I was not expecting that,'' Leparoux said. ''He's such an easy horse to ride and did everything so easily. I didn't hit him once. I just showed him the stick a couple times. I'm sure he was not 100 percent today, which means he should just get better.''
Union Rags ran 1-1/16 miles in 1 minute, 42.68 seconds to earn $240,000 for owner and breeder Phyllis Wyeth. Discreet Dancer faded to third.
Matz said Union Rags is scheduled to race in the $1 million Florida Derby on March 31.
Algorithms has won all three of his career starts. Owner Jack Wolf told the Daily Racing Form that the colt's injury doesn't appear to be serious but trainer Todd Pletcher didn't want to run him and risk a setback.
