THE WOODFORD SUN, Versailles, Ky. March 1, 2012 13

Union Rags dominates Fountain of Youth Stakes BY RICK CAPONE WOODFORD SUN SPORTS EDITOR After lost to Hansen in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at the Breeders’ Cup Cham- pionships last November at , “experts” began to have second thoughts about his chances of winning this year’s . That sentiment became even more apparent on Sunday, Feb. 26, at when racing fans made Union Rags the second choice behind race-day favorite, Discreet Dancer. Luckily, Thoroughbreds don’t understand that kind of thing and just go about their business of running races, A GREAT WEEKEND OF RACES. At Gulfstream Park which is exactly what Union on Sunday, Feb. 26, Union Rags, left, with Julien Rags did in the $400,000 Leparoux riding, staked his claim as a front runner for Fasig-Tipton Fountain of this year’s Kentucky Derby, with an impressive four- Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulf- length win in the $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of stream Park. Youth Stakes. On Saturday, Feb. 25, at Santa Anita Park In a dominating perfor- in Arcadia, Calif., The Factor, top right, with jockey mance under the guidance Martin Garcia riding, held off Sway Away to win the of jockey , tucky Derby winner, Barbaro, good race, Matz believes his Padrino was ahead just enough $200,000 San Carlos Stakes. Meanwhile at Fair Grounds Union Rags, a three-year-old and owned and bred by Phillis colt is still improving, and to score a nose victory over on Saturday, El Padrino, bottom right, No. 7, with jockey son of Dixie Union-Tempo, Wyeth, Union Rags now has plans one more prep race for Mark Valeski. aboard, got a head in front of Mark by Gone West, came fl ying four wins in fi ve-career starts, him before the Derby, most The stretch duel was a Valeski, with Rosie Napravnik riding, to win the Risen around the far turn three-wide, one second and $1,098,800 in probably the $1 million Florida very close one, and included Star Stakes, another Kentucky Derby prep race. (Photo then charged down the stretch earnings, which is more than Derby (G1) at Gulfstream on bumping by both horses and of Union Rags by Courtney Stafford / Coglianese Photos; to win by four lengths over enough to punch his ticket into March 31. jockeys. After the race, a photo of The Factor by Benoit Photo; photo of El Padrino second place fi nisher News the Derby. In other racing news… jockey’s objection was posted by Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges, Jr.) Pending. Finishing third was In the race, Union Rags On Saturday at Santa Anita by Napravnik. However, the Discreet Dancer. broke cleanly, then settled Park, The Factor led wire-to- race was allowed to stand Union Rags completed into third, then fourth place, wire to capture the $200,000 after it was determined, and second, one third and $266,100 prior to the $500,000 Fair the 1-1/16th-mile race in in the seven-horse fi eld behind San Carlos Stakes (G2) by agreed upon by the jockeys, in earnings. Grounds Oaks on March 31. 1:42.68. race leader Discreet Dancer, two lengths over Sway Away. that the brushing incident had Mark Valeski, who now has However, the ultimate goal for It was a very impressive who was ridden by Kent Amazombie was third. little to do with the outcome two wins in four starts, with one the three-year-old fi lly, accord- performance and places Union Desormeaux. The four-year-old colt of the race. second and $100,952, is owned ing to her trainer, Bret Calhoun, Rags right back in the con- Then, coming around the ran the seven-furlong race in Interestingly, a rematch by Brereton Jones, owner of is the Kentucky Oaks, which is versation as a favorite for the far turn, without being asked, 1:20.56. between the two horses might Airdrie Stud in Midway. He is held on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby, which will Union Rags began to pick up The Factor, who is out of take place in just a few weeks in out of Proud Citizen-Poncho’s Kentucky Derby. be held at Churchill Downs speed and was fl ying as he War Front-Greyciousness, by the Louisiana Derby (G1). Dream Girl, by Fortunate Pros- “We’re going to enjoy the on Saturday, May 5. entered the stretch. From there, Miswacki, now has six wins in “We’re certainly happy pect. Proud Citizen stands at moment,” he said. “We want “I was hoping he would he just picked off the horses 10 lifetime starts and $772,180 enough with the race toady Airdrie Stud, while Fortunate to get the right spacing for her. run a good race, but I was not in front of him, including in career earnings. that that will be one of our Prospect is pensioned and Obviously, the ultimate goal expecting that,” Leparoux said Discreet Dancer, and blazed “I’m just glad The Factor fi rst options,” said El Padrino’s lives at Old Friends, a Thor- is the Kentucky Oaks and we in a GulfStream press release. to the fi nish line. showed up today,” the colt’s trainer, , in a Fair oughbred retirement farm in want to fi gure out the best way “He’s such an easy horse to At the wire, he was four trainer, Bob Baffert said in a Grounds press release. “You Georgetown, with an annex tot get her there.” ride and did everything so lengths ahead of his nearest Saturday, Feb. 25, article on hope it’s the kind of race that farm in Midway. With the win, Summer Ap- easily. I didn’t hit him once, competitor, News Pending, BloodHorse.com. “He ran re- he’ll improve (going) forward Finally, Summer Applause, plause, who is out of Harlan’s I just showed him the stick a who had also passed Discreet ally hard. He was pretty tired and become battle-tested a with Robby Albarado riding, Holiday-Summer Exhibition, couple times. I’m sure he was Dancer, who fi nished third. when he came back, but we’re little bit, and he’s getting a little won the Rachel Alexandra by Royal Academy, now has not 100-percent today, which “He’s such a smart horse excited the way he ran. He’s bit more professional all the Stakes (G2) at FairGrounds three wins in fi ve starts, one means he should get better.” and he does everything so always been brilliant since time and, hopefully, learning on Saturday. second and $202,906 in earn- Leparoux got the mount on easy on himself for such a day one.” how to win.” It was her fi nal prep race ings. Union Rags when the horse’s big horse,” Matz said in a Also on Saturday, in another Larry Jones, trainer of Mark regular rider, Javier Castellano, Monday, Feb. 27, article in Kentucky Derby prep race, the Valeski, also sees a possibility chose to ride Algorithms in Thoroughbred Times Today. Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair of the two horses meeting up the race. Unfortunately, Algo- “You never know after a four- Grounds in New Orleans, El in the Louisiana Derby. “We rithms, who was the early race month rest; Do you have the Padrino, who was ridden by can see no reason not to,” he favorite, was scratched from horse fi t enough, did you do Javier Castellano, and Mark said. the race on Sunday morning this, did you do that…? You Valeski, who was ridden by El Padrino, who is owned Farm & Stable Supplies • Halters • Leather Goods after suffering a popped splint always go through fi fty-one Rosie Napravnik, put on a great by Let’s Go Stable and is out 199 Markham Dr., Versailles to his right front leg. questions. I guess we did it show, running side-by-side in of -Enchanted Rock, Trained by Michael Matz, right this time.” a great stretch duel towards by Causeway, now has three Visit us on the Versailles By-Pass who also trained 2006 Ken- While Union Rags ran a the fi nish line. In the end, El wins in fi ve starts, with one (859)873-4707 • [email protected]

at Paul S. McBrayer Arena on to have a very good shot of Hundley said. “He’s just a solid blocked shot. In the second half, it was BOYS the campus of Eastern Ken- winning this.” player. You know what you get In addition, senior guard more of the same, and while Continued from pg. 11 tucky University where they In Woodford’s game against when you talk about Dave.” Rodney Goss had 11 points, Western Hills was able to hit points, but ended with a game- faced Lexington Catholic on Franklin County, while it was The problem Woodford fi ve steals and thee rebounds, more of its shots, the Yellow leading 17 points. Wednesday night. Results were a tough loss, there were a few had against the Flyers was while senior forward Addison Jackets would just not let them Slowly but surely, the Flyers not available at press time, but bright spots in the game for the that some of their players, Hollin added fi ve points, two back in the game. At the end began to catch up and near the a complete report of the region Yellow Jackets. unfortunately, just had an assists, one blocked shot and of the third quarter, Woodford end of the third quarter, with a tournament will appear in next As always with this team, “off” night. one steal. led 56-29 and continued on to single free throw at 1:32, they week’s Woodford Sun. they never stopped fi ghting in “I thought some of our other In their fi rst-round district win the game 66-37. had taken their fi rst lead of the While Woodford did lose the game, giving it all they had guys that we usually count on game against Western Hills, Greenwell led the team in game 39-38. From there, they earlier this year to Lexington until the fi nal buzzer sounded. just didn’t have good games,” Woodford was dominant scoring with 19 points in the continued to pull away, and Catholic, they were playing As the saying goes, “there’s no Hundley said. “You know, it throughout the fi rst half, and, game, while senior William in the end, the Yellow Jackets without two key players, senior quit in this team.” hurts when you’re not clicking seemingly, could not miss a Starcher added 16 points. were not able to defend their guard William Starcher, who In addition, senior David on all cylinders, especially in shot, as they outscored the In addition, Johnson fi n- district title, as they lost to their was sick for the game, and Greenwell had another solid post-season play.” Wolverines 23-6 by the end ished the game with 13 points district rival, 58-48. senior forward Jay Johnson, outing, scoring 11 points, pull- Leading the team in the of the quarter. In the second and led the team with seven “I thought we came out a who was still rehabbing after ing down eight rebounds and game was senior Jay John- quarter, Woodford continued rebounds, and Gross had 11 little bit fl at,” Woodford head ACL surgery. So, without ques- dishing out three assists. son, who scored 13 points, its strong play and led 41-17 points and fi ve assists. coach Scott Hundley said. tion, Hundley was optimistic “Dave’s been great all year,” had eight rebounds and one lead at halftime. “You’ve got to give Franklin heading into the game. County a lot of credit. They “They’re (Lexington Cath- came out and really forced the olic) defi nitely a team that we Midway equestrian teams take honors at two shows issue and played great defense. match up well against,” he said We didn’t respond to their en- a few days before the game. BY RICK CAPONE ergy. I thought a few of their “They have a big guy and they WOODFORD SUN SPORTS EDITOR guys did a good job of forcing have some guards, and we’re The Midway College ... their will upon us and we very similar. The thing about Equestrian Team scored didn’t counter it.” Catholic is that they have their some top honors at two recent With those two games in style of play. If they can enforce collegiate horse shows. the books, Woodford now that on us, then they win. If The dressage team at- holds a 20-12 season record we can counter that and do a tended its second ever Inter- and advanced to the first good job of getting it to the collegiate Dressage Show at round of the 11th Region places we want to get it and the University of Findlay in Boys’ Basketball Tournament guarding them, we’re going Findlay, Ohio on Saturday, Feb. 18, and fi nished in eighth place. “It was another new ex- perience for the team,” said Mandy Alexander, equine Administrative Assistant/ Dressage Coach at Midway College. “The riders all rode to the best of their abilities on a group of horses that were completely new to them.” Top fi nishers at that horse show for Midway College THE MIDWAY COLLEGE DRESSAGE team fi nished ninth at the Intercollegiate were: Courtney Moak, who Dressage Show at the University of Findlay in Findlay, Ohio, on Saturday, Feb. fi nished in fourth place in the Training Level Test 1; 18. Team members who competed at the show were, from left, Kellie Driscoll, Kellie Driscoll, who fi nished Kelcie Meeks, Megan Barnish, Jenn Zimmerman, Alix Pajor, Sarah Hedden, and eighth in the First Level Test Courtney Moak. (Photo courtesy of Midway College) 1; Kelcie Meeks, who took participated in the Morehead Then, on Sunday, the team Erin Born, Kristen Bunch, ninth in the Training Level IHSA show on Saturday and followed up their great Sat- Madeline Hardin, Courtney Test 2; and Megan Barnish, Sunday, Feb. 18 and 19. urday performance by taking Komjathy, Laruen Moore, HELEN VOSS, a freshman at Woodford County High who fi nished ninth in the The team was the High home Reserve High Point team Emma Perrault, Kelsey Stol- School, rode Ooh La La, a Connemara Large Pony, to the Introductory Test B. Point Team on Saturday. honors. tenberg, Jacquelyn Theaker Children’s Pony Hunter Championship at the Country While the dressage horse In addition, Erin Born took Eleven Midway College and Veronica Thomas. Heir II AA-rated horse show in Wilmington, Ohio, on show was going on, the Mid- High Point Rider. She also won hunt seat team riders also quali- Four team members will Feb 11 and 12. Voss is the daughter of Tim and Laura way College hunt seat team both of her classes to receive fi ed for regionals. They are: be showing over fences and Voss and is trained by Joyce Brinsfi eld at Ballyhigh was also in action, as they the title. Hannah Blanton, Allison Born, on the fl at. Show Stable in Versailles. (Photo submitted)