Does Anyone Remember Union Rags?

Photo: Bob Mayberger / Eclipse Sportswire
Does anyone remember Union Rags?  Union Rags sat atop almost all of the Kentucky Derby Top 10 or 12 or 16 polls for the first few months of 2012. Union Rags was ranked number 1 in my first seven Derby top 10 polls until April 2nd when Union Rags finished third in the Florida Derby and Hansen had won the Gotham. In that 8th version of my poll I'll Have Another was ranked third having not run since his win in the Robert Lewis on Feb. 4th.
 
Does anyone remember that in seven lifetime starts Union Rags has four wins, a second, and a third for $1,198,000 in earnings which is second to only I’ll Have Another amongst the 2012 Belmont Stakes possible starters?  His only out of the money finish came in his troubled Kentucky Derby seventh place finish. The Daily Racing Form chart described his trip, “Union Rags bumped and squeezed at the start, was outrun along the rail, took up once in the second turn, swung wide to the outside for the drive and made a late gain.”
 
Does anyone remember that one of Union Rags best races came at Belmont? His five-length win in the Champagne Stakes came over Alpha who was a horse that many looked at as an upset possibility until he spiked a fever and will have to miss the Belmont.
 
Does anyone remember that Union Rags was the 1.10-1 favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile? Another troubled trip left him a nose short of victory behind Hansen.
 
Does anyone remember that prior to the Kentucky Derby most of the pre-race feel good stories were about Union Rags’ owner Phyllis Wyeth. She was the breeder, but sold the horse and regretted that decision and bought him back for $390,000 in February of 2011.
 
Does anyone remember that Union Rags’ main 2011 jockey Javier Castellano made an early decision go with Todd Pletcher for his Derby mount? Trainer Michael Matz then turned to Julien Leparoux who gave his horse two highly questioned rides in the Florida and Kentucky Derbys.  Union Rags will now be ridden by John Velazquez who is one of Belmont Park’s most successful jockeys in history.
 
Does anyone remember that Union Rags will enter the Belmont relaxed and well rested after training at Fair Hills in Maryland?  He has been allowed to graze and hang out in his paddock and just be a horse.  All reports say that he looks extremely fit and healthy heading into his final breeze on Sunday.
 
I, for one, remember all of these reasons that make Union Rags one of the four horses that have a legitimate chance to win the Belmont Stakes. I think the winner will come from this group: Dullahan, I’ll Have Another, Paynter, or Union Rags. 

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