As things stand now, Union Rags is a 9-2 co-favorite (with Bodemeister) for Saturday's 138th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Yes, New York horse racing fans, you should be familiar with the name.
Union Rags raced twice in New York as a two-year-old. in August at Saratoga Race Course Union Rags won the 61/2-furlong Three Chimneys Saratoga Special by six lengths. In October at Belmont Park he outran Alpha by more than five lengths for another victory.
Union Rags placed second to Hansen in the November Breeders' Cup Juvenile, won the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park in February and placed third in the Florida Derby March 31, also at Gulfstream. Take Charge Indy and Reveron finished ahead of him.
Union Rags is owned by Chadds Ford Stable and trained by Michael Matz, who also trained 2006 Kentucky Derby champion Barbaro. Union Rags will be ridden Saturday by Julien Leparoux.