Union Rags, who finished seventh as the second
choice in the Kentucky Derby after an eventful trip, will likely make
his next start in the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes on Saturday,
June 9, said trainer Michael Matz. The winner of Belmont’s Grade 1
Champagne last fall, Union Rags returned to the track at the Fair Hill
Training Center on Thursday.
“He came out of the race fine,” said Matz. “He’s been
galloping the past two days. We won’t know for certain for a couple of
weeks, but I would imagine if everything goes fine, we’ll look for the
Belmont.”
The Derby marked the first time in seven starts that the
Chadds Ford Stable color-bearer finished off the board. Union Rags,
who also counts the Grade 2 Three Chimneys Saratoga Special and the
Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park among his victories, was
second in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and third in the Grade 1
Florida Derby.