As the horses for the Florida Derby were led into the ring, the buzz became palpable; here and there, whoops and hollers coming from the crowd on hand. All the horses were in the ring but one, the Derby favorite.
 Photo by: Toni Pricci Awesome Maria struts her stuff |
When Union Rags finally entered, about four minutes after the others, the crowd began chirping again, the tension starting to mount, again.
As the horses circled, the crowd apparently got to longshot Z Camelot, who was parading directly in front of the big horse. Z Camelot became obstreperous, attempting to wheel and half run-off, scattering the people in his wake.
Union Rags, his copper-clad bay coat glimmering, never raised a hair. But unfortunately for his fans, and the public who made him a prohibitive 2-5 favorite, he never had a chance to raise his legs, to strut his stuff.
Jockey Julien Leparoux saw it this way: “It was just bad luck. He doesn’t care about being on the rail, in behind, or dirt [in his face]. Nobody paid attention to the winner, they let him go. I guess they just target the favorite.”
The runnerup finished a neck in front of Union Rags who had 1-3/4 lengths on the strong second favorite, Risen Star winner El Padrino, who finished a one-paced fourth.
“Union Rags is a monster,” said Chuck Sandford, owner of Take Charge Indy, who impressed with his honest assessment. “Today’s track didn’t suit his style, it suit ours. But the other two times we ran in Grade 1s, we ran against the bias. Today the rail was golden.
“Now he’s been in three Grade 1s and he finally got one of them. Calvin has been the perfect answer. He fits the colt to a tee. The nice thing about the colt is that he has front-end speed, he’s tactical. Calvin is so magical when you have that kind of horse.”
Although he wouldn’t say so, his victory in the Florida Derby represented a form a redemption for Borel who began his winter in South Florida, staying close to the colt and hoping to upgrade his business. The tack didn’t work. Borel raced at Gulfstream for over a month.
 Photo by: Toni Pricci Grace Hall (5) -- Sharp break, sharper finish |
“This horse is a good horse,” said winning trainer Pat Byrne. “I’ve been telling everyone he’s only going to get better with age and distance and we have a great rider in Calvin. The five weeks up to the Derby is perfect. This horse likes to come in [to his races] fresh.”
Matz was philosophical but quite aware what was happening as he watched the replay in the horsemen’s lounge-turned press box. “He sprung a shoe in the paddock but it was no big deal, we just tacked it back on.
“But Julien said Javier was on him all the way down the back-side, that’s just race-riding. It was unfortunate the way it turned out today. It was just one of those things."
It's a Jungle Out There
 Photo by: Toni Pricci Union Rags on the muscle as he enters the ring |
Instead, it was Corporate Jungle who parlayed a good looking preliminary allowance win into a Grade 3 score in his stakes debut. He was very good, running a mile in 1:33.99 for his length victory over Trend, and Chad Brown did a good job in preparation.
But this one was a product of Javier Castellano's skill, who an hour earlier, accepted a trophy as the meet's leading rider with a week yet to go, a record-setting meet for Castellano.
The pace in the turf race was unusually fast, with early split of :22.97 and :45.53. Castellano was saving ground in the pocket, a perfect position third, but he gave up that position, taking him off the inside and back to fifth, not wanting his mount get get wilted in the early heat. Perfect strategy.
Gearing up now four wide on the turn, his forward momentum carried him into the lead soon after entering the straight, Castellano keeping his mount alive as Trend with Julien Leparoux was bearing down rapidly. Corporate Jungle and Castellano had more than enough in the tank to prevail.
 Photo by: Toni Pricci A smiling Calvin Borel -- and this was before the race. |
Prelude to a Derby?
Julien Leparoux warmed up nicely for his appointment aboard Union Rags in the centerpiece Florida Deby by taking the Grade 3 Skip Away with 12-1 upsetter Fort Larned, who stalked the pace of Uptowncharliebrown, took command after six furlongs and gamely withstood the late challenge of Alma D'oro to win the mile and three-sixteenths event.
Second favorite Self Control made a menacing run around the bend but failed to go on with it. Favorite Where's Sterling was a disappointing, one-paced fourth.
"He's four and he's just maturing," trained Ian WIlkes said of the winner. "He ran good. They don't run too many at a mile and three-sixteenths. We'll take it."
"Ian figured this horse out," said Leparoux. In his previous races we had been taking him back but when we let him run free he runs big. He's an improving horse."
 Photo by: Toni Pricci Borel and Byrne celebrate. Take Charge Indy only has eyes for the camera. |
Awesome Is as Awesome Does
It was testimony to the class of this tremendous filly that Awesome Maria was able to win the Rampart without running anywhere near her best form. This became apparent when Johnny Velazquez, winning his second straight stakes for Todd Pletcher, was asking his filly to get into the bridle despite a dawdling opening quarter-mile in :24.10.
But she eventually did start running just as the pace began to pick up, a half in :47.61 and three-quarters in 1:10.52. Awesome Maria began to engage pacesetting Canadian Mistress in earnest on the far turn, took clear command into the stretch and was ridden out to win the Grade 3 nine furlongs in 1:48.19. But what she might have lacked in sharpness she made up for in class.
"Just ta have her back this year alone, and the way she put two races back-to-back is awesome to see," said Velazquez.
Awesome, like Maria.
Bets n' Pieces
Bartolemeo, a 30-1 afterthought entrant in today's Florida Derby, has been scratched with a bruised foot. "Nothng serious," the connections said, "just bad timing..."
Track fast; turf firm for Florida Derby day...
Rogue Romance, who hasn't been seen since he finished third to Mucho Macho Man in the 2011 G2 Risen Star, made a strong return to the races, hold off the rally of favorite Wiki to take the opener, running a mile in an eye-catching 1:34.95...
We'll be posting from Gulfstream Park throughout the afternoon...
Post time for the Florida Derby is scheduled for 5:40 p.m. I'll take OVER...
I'm Just a Travellin' Man
Under a well judged ride from Johnny Velazquez, Travellin' Man wore down favorite Jersey Town in deep stretch to win the Sir Shackleton in a lively 1:14.62 for 6-1/2 furlongs. Jersey Town, making his first start since the Breeders' Cup, did most of the dirty work racing Action Andy into defeat on the turn while the winner sat just off his flank.
These two battled the length of the stretch until Travellin' Man drew off inside the furlong pole. Todd Pletcher trained the winner, the 3-1 co-second favorite...
01 Apr 2012 at 03:22 am | #
Lethargic, complacent, cautious, reserved, considerate, timid, might be how I would describe Union Rag’s sojourn, and “diplomatic,” is how I would describe the title of your article. Hilary Clinton couldn’t have said it better. I love this game!
TTT
01 Apr 2012 at 05:10 am | #
The ‘game’ is not that easy, is it? I took TTT’s advice in reverse when is wrote “forget the rest” after Mr. Pricci explained his Florida Derby selections.
Boy, did Leparoux have excuses; the reasons he gave sounded like he actually talked to the horse.
Ya all would have done better financially wagering on Philly Park plodders; that is if you are in this ‘game’ to make money or to merely hype a handful of thoroughbreds trained by a handful of trainers involved in a handful of stake races with inflated purses.
01 Apr 2012 at 05:16 am | #
The notion that Gulfstream had a speed-bias on Saturday is a myth.
It was normal Gulfstream dirt, which favors speed but does not prevent horses with tactical speed from making a move and winning.
The slow pace and trip are legitimate reasons to give Union Rags an excuse, but not any perceived unusual bias.
I haven’t yet seen the Racing Flow bias calculation for Saturday, but I’ll bet money it confirms there was no bias.
Gulfstream MIGHT have been a fraction more speed-favoring than on Fountain of Youth day, but even that is not certain.
01 Apr 2012 at 06:04 am | #
Mr. Kling: Why is it you turf writers come up with excuses when the touted horse loses? Union Rags was beaten by two horses who races over the same track; how about some kudos to the trainer and jockey of these horses?
01 Apr 2012 at 06:15 am | #
Wendell,
2 things:
1) When you call me Mr. Kling I look around to see if my father is there.
2) The answer to your question is simple - for the same reason you, as a bettor, don’t always bet the horse that won its last race.
01 Apr 2012 at 06:46 am | #
Nick, I thought the track was speed-favoring, although bias would be a little strong; that was the owner’s word, not mine, and I’m not in the habit of making up quotes. Bias is a little strong, just as myth is a little strong. But no one came from the clouds all day (see result charts).
WMC, I seldom make excuses for losing selections. Showing a profit after handicapping the feature race of the day, at the featured track, for 4-1/2 years, makes it unnecessary to make excuses. Besides, anyone who knows me the least little bit knows making excuses is not my style; I own my mistakes.
Check out the press release sectio on this site at your leisure and see Mr. Pletcher’s comments re his horse, El Padrino. He talks about the wide trip his horse had and intimated that was OK because Javier had the favorite trapped down inside. Mr. Matz called it race-riding, which it was. All favorites in big races have targets on their backs. Incidentally, Castellano does a lot of “race-riding.” Ask Rosie Napravnik.
But you’re right, no more excuses. I’m not a whale of a bettor, but if you truly believe that Union Rags had no excuses, then give me one point better than what’s indicated on the Churchill Downs tote board and I’ll take Union Rags to win the Kentucky Derby for $200.
In my eyes, all Union Rags lost yesterday was a horse race. Don’t you just love horse racing?
01 Apr 2012 at 07:34 am | #
And if Union Rags doesn’t win the Kentucky Derby the excuses will be in abundance.
My immediate thought on Union Rags and the Derby is ‘where’s the money, honey?’ And, why wager on a race with twenty entrants when the jockeys know that the stewards won’t object to rough riding? The ‘anything goes’ attitude that permeates the Derby keeps the rubber band on my roll and in my pocket.
There are numerous other races on Derby day that will interest me more.
01 Apr 2012 at 07:37 am | #
JRP,
I use the result charts to calculate a daily track rating based on position and beaten lengths. Gulfstream on Saturday was almost identical to Fountain of Youth day.
My methodology isn’t as sophisticated as the Racing Flow boys, so I’m anxiously awaiting their calculation.
01 Apr 2012 at 11:41 am | #
If I had it all to do over again, would probably double my associated bets with Union Rags yesterday, and the next time he runs, will empty my pockets. Anybody who knows anything about this game, and doesn’t spend his time ranting about turf writers, knows that handicapping is the art of forgiving. Good handicappers are a lot like Jesus. Enjoy your Palm Sunday men (and boys).
TTT
01 Apr 2012 at 12:50 pm | #
#9: Ya learn sum’pin every day, even at my age.
Today I was informed that ‘handicapping is the art of forgiving’. Geez, really?
I, IMO, am an excellent handicapper, not merely good; so,I must be Jesus’ equal.
You have no idea how I wish I were a boy.
I am ready to loan money when you go ‘all in’ on Union Rags’ next race after the jockey comes up with more excuses why the horse didn’t win (at, of course, 25% interest).
Off to great start at Philly today. Will Endure in the 2nd was like stealing. You’ll get it someday, #9.
01 Apr 2012 at 03:43 pm | #
Confucious Say: Way to tell good handicapper is when others say you are good handicapper. Self praise stinks.
TTT
01 Apr 2012 at 04:21 pm | #
Won’t call you Mr. Pricci, as you may feel the same as Nicki baby, so JP, baby, just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy this site, and the opportunity to voice my opinions. Like your style. Keep up the great work, and don’t let the disgruntled critics get to you.
TTT
01 Apr 2012 at 08:41 pm | #
No worries, T. Everyone calls ‘em like he’s sees ‘em.
I never have an issue with that. Think a wise man once said: that’s what makes horse racing; viva la difference!
02 Apr 2012 at 06:48 am | #
I read Leparoux post race Florida Derby comments he blamed the fact no one ran or pressed the winner, the kick back and being stuck down on the inside. Did you notice he never hit Union Rags. Did you see his ride aboard Keertana in the next race. Never really asked her either until the final eight of a mile. Both horses win their next start in Kentucky...Wildcats win the National Championship tonight.
02 Apr 2012 at 09:14 am | #
I’m not going to pretend I know more about picking horses that you guys, but nothing about Union Rags race gives me confidence about his ability to win the Derby. The horse was supposed to move forward as “the screws were tightened.” All of the excuses given sound pretty soft to me. If the horse had a problem with race riding, how will he handle a 20-horse field? When he did start running, he couldn’t even get by a 30-1 shot.
02 Apr 2012 at 10:16 am | #
I thought it was a good prep. He made up ground into a slow pace running a fourth quarter in 23.4, a final 3/8ths in 36.1 and a final furlong in 12.2. Those two final fractions are very good for a mile and and eighth at GP.
03 Apr 2012 at 05:03 am | #
Following up earlier track bias comments.
Racing Flow calculated a +20 bias rating for the Florida Derby.
0 (zero) in the Racing Flow scale is no bias, minus numbers move into the speed-favoring and speed-bias categories.
Hence, Racing Flow deemed the track fair, and not speed-biased at all.
03 Apr 2012 at 01:22 pm | #
Great ride by Borel!! If he thinks this horse has even more to give, then make no mistake, he’s for real. I still can’t downgrade Union Rags though. He got held up a bit. If nothing else though, it’ll probably have bettors second guessing themselves. derbydeals.com