Top 2-Year-Olds of 2011 – How Would You Rate These Horses?

In one month’s time, this year’s juvenile crop will turn 3 and begin along the trail to the Triple Crown. A handful of this year’s 2-year-old’s have already distinguished themselves from their contemporaries and figure to play a prominent role in the lead-up to the Kentucky Derby.

Two colts have been clearly the best of this generation thus far—Hansen and Union Rags. Hansen has won all of his three starts, including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile by a desperate head over Union Rags and the Kentucky Cup Juvenile prior to that.

However, many feel Union Rags actually ran a better race than Hansen in the Juvenile as he was parked very wide throughout and ran a little green in the stretch. Additionally, given his previous wins in the Grade 1 Champagne and Grade 2 Saratoga Special, it could be argued Union Rags overall body of work is superior to Hansen’s.

That will be decided next month at the Eclipse Awards, but either way Union Rags and Hansen are clearly the cream of this crop.

According to online reports, Union Rags will make just two starts prior to the Kentucky Derby. Trainer Michael Matz said he plans to run the son of Dixie Union in the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth Stakes on Feb. 26 and the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby on March 31.

The second-tier of Kentucky Derby hopefuls is led by the likes of undefeated Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint winner Secret Circle and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile 3rd-place finisher Creative Cause.

Secret Circle hails from the loaded Bob Baffert barn. While he’s obviously a talented colt, considering he was trying graded stakes for the first time when winning the Breeders’ Cup, he’s never raced around two turns so distance remains a question. Secret Circle is scheduled to receive that test in the season’s last major 2-year-old race, the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park Dec. 17,

Creative Cause has done little wrong for trainer Mike Harrington while gaining plenty of experience. The son of Giant’s Causeway won his debut in July and added the Grade 2 Best Pal and Grade 1 Norfolk prior to his admirable effort in the Breeders’ Cup. Creative Cause certainly looks like the same type of tough, hard-knocking horse his sire was.

A pair of colts stamped themselves as potentially major contenders last weekend with wins in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct and the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs.

O’Prado Again won the 1 1/8-mile Remsen off just a maiden win. He joins stablemate Dullahan, winner of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity, as Derby contenders for trainer Dale Romans.

Gemologist won the Kentucky Jockey Club for the same connections that brought us 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver. The son of Tiznow ran his record to a perfect three-for-three with the win.

This has the looks to be a pretty good group of sophomores, which is much needed after this year’s lackluster group.

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