Union Rags galloped 1 ½ miles on his first visit to Churchill Downs this year
The leading contender for the Grade 1, $2 million Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, Union Rags visited the track for the first time this year, and turned in a gallop of 1 ½ miles over the dirt track there on 27 April, 2012.
Trained Michael Matz for owner Phyllis Wyeth’s Chadds Ford Stable, Union Rags was shipped to Louisville from Keeneland on 26 April, 2012, and the 3-year-old colt has been at the track before when he finished second to winner, Hansen, in the Grade 1 Grey
Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last fall.
Also bred by Phyllis Wyeth in Kentucky, Union Rags was a bundle of energy on the track when he came out to gallop under exercise rider, Peter Brette.
“He’s been amazing,” trainer Michael Matz said. “The further he goes, the stronger he gets. He’s amazing that way.”
“I thought it went fine,” Matz said. “He galloped nice today. He enjoyed it and it looked like he was having fun out there.”
The son of Dixie Union, in his most recent Kentucky Derby prep race finished 3rd in the Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park, when the colt went 1 1/8 miles on 31 March, 2012.
He finished behind the runner up, Reveron, and rampant winner of the Florida Derby, Take Charge Indy, who covered the distance in 1 minute and 48.79 seconds.
The Grade 1 Florida Derby was Union Rags second start of the new season, as previously, he was exiting a victory in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes, where he defeated the likes of News Pending in second and Discreet Dancer in third, while he covered
the 1 1/16 mile distance in 1 minute and 42.68 seconds at Gulfstream Park on 26 February, 2012.
Out of Gone West mare Tempo, Union Rags is expected to turn in another work on 28 April, 2012, depending on the weather.
There is a forecast for rain on the 28th, and if that happens then Matz will send Union Rags out for his final breeze on either 29th or the 30th.
“We’ve got to play it by ear,” he said. “I want to make sure we get on a good track.”
Tags: