Union Rags Travels to Churchill Downs

Chadds Ford Stable’s Union Rags, a leading contender for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), was scheduled to leave Keeneland late this morning for Churchill Downs. Michael Matz trains the 3-year-old son of Dixie Union, who has trained here since he arrived from the Palm Meadows training center in Florida on April 15. Union Rags worked once at Keeneland, a half-mile in :47.40 on April 20, under regular exercise rider Peter Brette.

“He’s been doing well here,” said Matz, who trained Barbaro at Keeneland in April 2006 before he won the Kentucky Derby. Since his work, Union Rags and Brette have been galloping each morning over Keeneland’s five-furlong training track. Union Rags is to turn in his final work for the Derby at Churchill in the coming days.

On Thursday afternoon, Keeneland fans were able to see Union Rags when he schooled in the Paddock in the first race. Julien Leparoux, Keeneland’s leading rider with 22 wins, is to ride Union Rags in the Kentucky Derby.