Union Rags to break from post number 6 in the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park
Though, Hansen got the Eclipse Award of the top 2-year-old juvenile of 2011, Union Rags was his closest rival in snatching that award was undefeated in three career starts prior to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last fall at Churchill Downs , which Hansen
went on to win edging out Union Rags just before hitting the wire.
Even after all that in their juvenile season, Hansen should’ve been declared as the early Kentucky Derby favourite as a sophomore, but Union Rags successfully snatched that from him was looked as the one to take the Derby. His chances were solidified when
he took the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes, and its only a matter of materialising a win over Hansen when the two meet in the Kentucky Derby.
With Hansen pointed at the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, which has been a solid spot for Kentucky Derby hopefuls for decades, Union Rags took a different route going into the Kentucky Derby.
Michael Matz trained 3-year-old Dixie Union colt is going to Gulfstream Park for his penultimate race of the spring season in the Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby.
Right now, Triple Crown talk is in the air, and some are going as far as saying that 33 year Triple Crown drought will be over, and it will Union Rags to do it. It is still farfetched and first things first for Union Rags.
Declared as the 6 to 5 morning line favourite for the 31 March, 2012 Gulfstream Park feature, Union Rags cannot afford to even out a foot wrong, because his adversaries are pretty upset-minded and the word upset-minded goes really well with News Pending.
Fourth in the Fountain of Youth Stakes, News Pending is not be taken lightly along with Take Charge Indy, who has been specifically saved for this race, can be a handful.
The stiffest challenge is likely to come from the Todd Pletcher’s trainee, El Padrino, who tempestuously took the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes, and looks hungry for more.
Union Rags drew post number 6, El Padrino will break from post number 8, News Pending the second gate for Dale Romans, and Take Charge Indy will be breaking right beside him from post number 3.
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