Union Rags, El Padrino square off in Florida Derby

"I think he should take a step forward from the Fountain of Youth," said

trainer Michael Matz, who also trained the ill-fated Barbaro to a Florida

Derby/Kentucky Derby sweep in 2006. "You're never sure what to expect coming off

of a four-month layoff, but it couldn't have gone any better. I was very

pleased. It didn't look like he had to give everything he had. I would hope that

having a race under his belt would help him for the Florida Derby.

"He had some unfortunate problems in the Breeders' Cup, but I think it was an

isolated incident. He's more mature physically and mentally than he was as

two-year-old, and I think it showed in his last race. I asked Julien if there

was anything we need to work on after the race and he said 'not really. When I

ask him to wait, he waits. When I ask him to go, he goes.'"

Winner of the Grade 1 Champagne and Grade 2 Saratoga Special last season,

Union Rags was made the prohibitive 6-5 morning line favorite for the Florida

Derby and will break from post 6 in a field nine.

"Then, he went to Louisiana and showed he had some courage in a dogfight with

a nice horse (Mark Valeski) and was able to put his nose down at the wire. It's

nice to know that he's capable of sitting behind horses and taking some dirt

when he's down inside, and that when he gets in a situation that he needs to

find more, he can come up with it."

The remainder of the Florida Derby field could be running for minor checks if

the top pair run to form. The most likely upsetter of the rest is Take Charge

Indy, two lengths second to El Padrino in the aforementioned allowance. The

regally-bred son of A.P. Indy, out of multiple Grade 1 winner Take Charge Lady,

bypassed last month's Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby after drawing a wide post and was

re-directed to the Florida Derby by trainer Pat Byrne.

News Pending crashed the Fountain of Youth exacta at 27-1 following a

runner-up effort in a turf allowance. The Dale Romans trainee seems to be

improving at the right time, but may have more than just four lengths to make up

against Union Rags. Others exiting the Fountain of Youth are Fort Loudon and

Neck 'n Neck, both of whom experienced rough trips early in the race.

Revereon captured the inaugural Gulfstream Park Derby over 1 1/16 miles on

New Year's Day, and then weakened to third in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis at Tampa

Bay Downs after making a brief lead in the stretch. The Calder-based colt has

posted excellent works over his home track's toughness-building surface, but

will need to quicken.

The rank outsiders in the Florida Derby are maiden winner Bartoleme, who's

been beaten by significant margins in three attempts against softer, and the

Romans-trained maiden Z Camelot.