Union Rags right up there with Big Brown according to Eddie Woods
Eddie Woods, a Florida pinhooker is excited about the prospects of the 3-year-old, Union Rags, in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday of May. The reason being that, Union Rags after five years have shown as much promise as, Big Brown, who was
also a graduate from Wood’s sale program.
The Kentucky bred Boundary colt, Big Brown was sensational in his short career, which lasted exactly a year. The colt was sold for $190,000 to Hidden Brook, the agent of Paul Pompa, and the sale took place at Keeneland of 2-year-olds in training.
Big Brown went on to win the Grade 1 Florida Derby, Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, Grade 1 Preakness Stakes in the 2008 season, but finished ninth in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes, the only defeat of his career, but not enough to take away an Eclipse Award winning
season from Big Brown.
He further went on to post victory in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational in the same season. Eddie Woods is hoping that Union Rags, who is also a graduate from his sale program, could achieve the heights that Big Brown did in his career and become a classic
winner.
“I tell you what, I’m very excited,” Woods said. “I think he (Union Rags) has as good a shot to win the Derby as any horse in a number of years. I think he’s very talented; we don’t even know (the extent of) his talent yet.”
There was always a big question mark on Union Rags when it came to stamina, a crucial trait that a horse needs to have to win the Derby, pointing that his pedigree doesn’t have the stamina it needs.
However Woods doesn’t aye the argument and goes completely against it. “From what I’ve seen and the way he runs I’m not worried,” said the Sunshine State horseman. “He actually reminds me a little bit of Barbaro (the 2006 Derby winner who was conditioned
by Union Rags’ trainer Michael Matz). He looks like he’s only getting ready to really go near the finish.”
Union Rags have been successful over at 1 1/16 miles once in two attempts, but time will tell whether the Dixie Union colt has the stamina to match Big Brown in the Triple Crown.
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