Union Rags made his three-year-old debut a winning one, blowing past Discreet Dancer and News Pending at the top of the stretch before coasting home to an easy victory in the $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II).
Unraced since finishing second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) last November, Union Rags was sent off as the 6-5 second choice in the Fountain of Youth, behind only the undefeated Todd Pletcher-trainee Discreet Dancer. Under a perfect ride from new rider Julien Leparoux, Union Rags broke quickest of all, but soon settled back into the fourth position as Discreet Dancer set the early pace. News Pending, who broke just a step slowly, was rushed into contention by jockey Kent Desormeaux, rallying past horses on the far outside before settling into the second position. Casual Trick was racing in third toward the rail, with Union Rags right on his outside. Fort Loudon was sitting in fifth, followed by Neck 'n Neck, who had attempted to secure racing room along the rail before being forced to steady off heels. Csaba was content to trail early on.
The positions remained relatively unchanged through fractions of :24.50 and :48.11. However, following three-quarters of a mile in 1:12.05, Union Rags made a bold three-wide bid that carried him right past Discreet Dancer and News Pending before the field had even entered the homestretch. From there, he drew away powerfully under a strong hand ride before finishing up under no urging late to stop the clock in 1:42.68 for the one mile and a sixteenth distance.
News Pending outfinished Discreet Dancer for third, while Neck n' Neck completed the superfecta. The winner is owned by Chadds Ford Stable and trained by Michael Matz.
-Keelerman
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