The Galloping Hat Rack

Union Rags

(Dixie Union x Tempo, by Gone West)

Trainer: Michael Matz (Barbaro, Kicken Kris, Round Pond, Visionaire)

Jockey: Julien Leparoux (the French-born, Eclipse Award-winning jockey is best known for his cool-headed race riding and is a stand-out at Kentucky tracks, where he holds riding titles at Turfway, Keeneland, and has rivaled Pat Day with riding 7 winners in a single day at Churchill Downs. He co-holds the record for most Breeders’ Cup wins in a single year with Garrett Gomez [3 wins] and has won aboard horses like Informed Decision, Nownownow, and Forever Together. His Derby history: favorite Dialed In in 2011 [8th], Awesome Act in 2010 [19th], General Quarters in 2009 [12th], Cool Coal Man in 2008 [15th], Sedgefield in 2007 [5th])

Owned by: Chadds Ford Stable

Record: 6-4-1-1

Earnings: $1,198,800

Summary: A product of Pennsylvania roots (similar to that of Smarty Jones), Union Rags is owned by his breeder who bought him back as a two-year-old for twice the amount she sold him for in a classic tale of horseman’s intuition. Trainer Matz is ecstatic to get another shot with a serious Derby hopeful as he had with the undefeated Barbaro, who suffered an infamously tragic ending in the 2006 Preakness. Javier Castellano called Union Rags the best horse he ever rode last year after winning the Saratoga Special (II).

Prep Schedule: The blaze-faced Union Rags gave in to the hype of his connections when he emphatically broke his maiden at first asking then followed that up with a romp in the slop in the Saratoga Special (II). Not to be outdone, he romped in the Champagne Stakes (I) over eventual Gotham (III) winner/Wood Memorial (I) runner-up Alpha by more than 5 lengths before losing a duel with Hansen in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (I) after swerving badly in the stretch to his outside. He roared back as a three-year-old, taking the Fountain of Youth (II) by 4 lengths before succumbing to traffic troubles to take a close third in the Florida Derby (I) to Take Charge Indy.

Running Style: Has shown great adaptability to run from nearly anywhere, winning style places him well off the lead

Pros: A huge horse with an equally huge way of running, Union Rags has the build as well as the relaxed character of a Derby heavyweight. He’s a push-button runner who will turn it on when asked and needs little encouragement. He’s also one of the few horses here to excel or even be tested on a very off track.

Cons: As time runs out, it looks like Union Rags will bear the heavy burden of being the Derby favorite– the last favorite to go on to win the great classic was Fusaichi Pegasus in 2000, and before that, Spectacular Bid in 1979. As the Florida Derby proved, he’s going to have to master his issue of negotiating traffic more effectively and once again, Leparoux is going to have to deal with other jockeys trying to pinch the favorite. Statistical handicappers will not be very impressed by the progression of his figures leading up to Derby Day.

Final Word: Out of all the contenders, Union Rags seems the best candidate to win all-around. Pedigree, preparation, conformation, connections, talent, and maturity– he has all the ingredients of a Kentucky Derby winner, and you’d be foolish to leave him out of the big picture.