FairGulf Preview (Part 2)

Here we go, FOY preview.

But first:

9th Race - Gulfstream Park - Sunday, February 26th, 2012
ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING. 1 1/8 Mile Turf. Purse $56,500. FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON $7,500 TWICE OTHER THAN MAIDEN, CLAIMING, STARTER OR STATE BRED OR WHICH HAVE NEVER WON THREE RACES OR CLAIMING PRICE $62,500. Weight, 123 lbs. Non-winners of $24,000 twice at a mile or over since January 26 Allowed 2 lbs. Non-winners of a race at a mile or over since then Allowed 4 lbs. Claiming Price $62,500 (Races where entered for $50,000 or less not considered in allowances) (Condition Eligibility). (If deemed inadvisable to run this race over the turf course, it will be run on the main track at One Mile and One Eighth) (Rail at 108 feet). (04:17 PM) (12)
PP Horse A/S M/E Wgt Jockey Trainer
1 Prado Dash 4 C L 119 Wilson Emma-Jayne Nafzger Carl A.
2 Oligarch 4 C L 119 Centeno Daniel Garcia Rodolfo
3A Utley 4 C L 119 Leparoux Julien R. Sheppard Jonathan E.
4 Slow Pace 4 G L 119 Castellano Javier Pletcher Todd A.
5 Freshman Dorm 5 H L 119 Maragh Rajiv McLaughlin Kiaran P.
6 Laureate Conductor 6 H L 119 Contreras Luis De Paulo Michael P.
7A Deal Making 7 G L 119 Rose Jeremy Motion H. Graham
8 Point Of Entry 4 C L 119 Velazquez John R. McGaughey III Claude R.
9 Sky Blazer 4 G L 119 Prado Edgar S. Tagg Barclay
10 Uptowncharlybrown 5 H L 119 Lopez Paco Coletti, Sr. Edward J.
11 Hailstone 5 H L 119 Rocco, Jr. Joseph Ribaudo Robert
12 Decaf Again 6 G L 119 Garcia Jose Angel Rose Barry R.

Longtime favorite of mine Uptowncharlybrown looks like he's found his stride again. However, beware of Utley, he is a sibling of Rainbow View and Just as Well, both of them multiple stakes winners (the former being 2yo Champion Filly in Europe). In his second start in the US (he was formally based in Europe) it was a win. Besides he's named after the Phillies Chase Utley! (His owner is from this area).

11th Race - Gulfstream Park - Sunday, February 26th, 2012
STAKES. 1 1/16 Mile Dirt. Purse $400,000. Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. (Grade 2). FOR THREE YEAR OLDS. (05:13 PM) (8)
PP Horse A/S M/E Wgt Jockey Trainer
1 Neck 'n Neck 3 C L b 116 Lezcano Jose Wilkes Ian R.
2 Algorithms 3 C L 120 Castellano Javier Pletcher Todd A.
3 Fort Loudon 3 C L 120 Maragh Rajiv Gold Stanley I.
4 Casual Trick 3 R L 116 Nakatani Corey S. Zito Nicholas P.
5 Discreet Dancer 3 C L 116 Velazquez John R. Pletcher Todd A.
6 News Pending 3 C L 116 Desormeaux Kent J. Romans Dale L.
7 Union Rags 3 C L 122 Leparoux Julien R. Matz Michael R.
8 Csaba 3 C L 116 Lopez Paco Gleaves Philip A.

Going over each horse one by one.

1. Neck 'n Neck (Flower Alley)- 5th in the Sam Davis, 2nd in his season debut to Discreet Dancer.

2. Algorithms (Bernardini)- Only 3 starts under his debut, but he defeated the 2yo Champ Hansen in his three year old debut which was the Holy Bull. His half brother Keyed Entry ran poorly as the distances got longer, the good news is his pedigree is more one suited for distance. He is so highly rated by his jockey that he jumped off Union Rags to ride him.

3. Fort Loundon (Awesome of Course)- the same connections that orginally brought you Jackson Bend and Awesome Feather. Like Jackson, he swept the Florida Stallion Series. However, he is not as accomplished and is coming off a fourth place finish in the Holy Bull.

4. Casual Trick (Bernardini)- 2nd in the Gulfstream Park Derby and eighth in an allowance. Prob. better on turf with an Epsom Oaks winning dam.

5. Discreet Dancer (Discreet Cat)- Like his Holy Bull winning stablemate, he's lightly raced with only two starts. However, both of those starts where wins and they where at Gulfstream.

6. News Pending (Harlan's Holiday)- 2nd last time out, and broke his maiden in the race before that.

7. Union Rags (Dixie Union)- Gets a new jockey in his 3yo debut, but that really shouldn't be a big deal. Beared out a bit in his loss in the Breeders' Cup, but from all reports he has gotten bigger and stronger, could end up being very hard to beat. Apperently he's being compared to Barbaro who shares a trainer with.

8. Csaba (Kitten's Joy)- A very turfy pedigree, was fifth in the Dania Beach last time out.

My pick, I think it's going to between Algorthms and Union Rags. In the end, my pick for the Fountain of Youth is Union Rags. He may just be too classy for this group and should set up well for the Florida Derby. Algorthms for second and Fort Loundon for third.