Michael Matz, Union Rags take the “Test of the Champion”
In the absence of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes winner, Dullahan was declared the favourite and Union Rags the third choice for the Belmont Stakes, but when the field broke out of their posts, the odds were thrown out of the window after Union Rags broke swiftly, sending out a message that it wouldn’t be one of those lackluster performances.
The commentator called it right, saying Union Rags broke well and now settled in fifth, as new jockey over the colt, John Velazquez had it all covered and worked out after a few second into the race.
The first choice, Dullahan, was out and about just off the inside to Union Rags, but whatever went down after that, everyone found the Donegal Racing’s colt trailing the leader was off in eighth.
Though, it was Bob Baffert trained, Paynter, who was rampant enough to replicate what his stable mate, Bodemeister, did in the earlier legs of the Triple Crown, as he broke well and was shot up to the front, leading the field by carving impressive fractions in the 1 ½ mile event.
The Chadds Ford Stable owned, Union Rags, all along the way kept tabs on the leaders, and never really lost much ground in his pursuit, as he kept them in firing range until the top of the stretch.
As much as fans wanted the commentator to yell, I’ll Have Another, It was Union Rags, who was making headway, as Dullahan, at the top of the stretch, was back in the field struggled to gain lost ground, as the runner never got into contention for the Belmont Stakes at any stage of the race.
It was Atigun, Paynter and Union Rags on the inside, pulling away from the rest of the field and making it a three way contest in the end, but surprisingly, Paynter wasn’t ready to give an inch away, but little the colt knew that it was a different type of Union Rags that showed up the race.
Atigun gave up slightly at t he end, but Union Rags didn’t, as he rallied hard on the rail, and eventually got past Paynter, and agonisingly for Bob Baffert he remained second best in all three Triple Crown races, as Union Rags rounded off glory.
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