The unbeaten colt, Union Rags eyes the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile after his Champagne Stakes victory
The unbeaten 2-year-old colt Union Rags, earned an automatic berth in the 1 1/16 mile Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs on 5 November, 2011, after his victory in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park on 8 August, 2011.
Trainer Michael Matz reported that the son of Dixie Union has come out of the Champagne Stakes in excellent condition, as the colt ate up well after the race and the next morning he was out in the paddock for about 2 hours so, everything looks good with Union Rags.
Michael Matz trains the 2-year-old for owners Phyllis Wyeth’s Chadds Ford Stable. Union Rags took over the distance of 1 mile for the first time in his 1-year-old racing career.
Prior to the Champagne Stakes, out of Temp by Gone West, Union Rags broke his maiden over a distance of 5 furlongs at Del Mar on 12 July, 2011, under jockey J Pimentel.
On the way Union Rags defeated Jake N Elwood and Freddie One Bite, who finished second and third, respectively, with the winning time of 58.25 seconds.
Michael Matz then pointed his impressive colt to run in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special over the Spa’s dirt course under jockey J Castellano on 15 August, 2011.
Union Rags was up against a good pack of horses, with the distance of 6 ½ furlongs which he covered in 1 minute and 18.33 seconds downing Stat and Indian Evening in the process.
Now, after his Champagne Stakes win, Union Rags is eyeing the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and if everything goes well for the juvenile colt then he will be headed to Churchill Downs to participate in the young runner’s most prestigious race.
Michael Matz hasn’t had a lot of Breeders’ Cup runners, only one starter to date is Round Pond, who went on to win the Distaff at Churchill Downs in 2006, and now Union Rags is looking to be the second for Michael Matz.
There is not a mapped schedule for Union Rags, said Michael Matz, and he further added that he will go down to Churchill Downs with sufficient time in hand before the race, but for now Union Rags will train at Fair Hill for the big race.
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