Road to the Kentucky Derby '12

The 2012 Kentucky Derby is wide open--- good horses with  talent.

 The Nation's Horse:

 Union Rags

The story behind this colt and his owners is truly a fairytale and it would complete the story by having this colt win the Kentucky Derby, which is very possible with his outstanding class. The small people in every business always have a shot at the big dogs, and that is exactly what owners of Union Rags - Phyllis M. Wyeth have. Wyeth owns a small horse farm called Lookout Farm which is on the border of Delaware and Pennsylvania.

When Union Rags was born, he was dead quiet as a foal, the groom even jumped on him once before he was even broke to ride. Mrs. Wyeth quoted, “any child could come up to him and not have to worry.” This quality is very rare in a race horse, in which most thoroughbreds are high strung, wild creatures with fire in their eyes. Most people think that, a wild, thoroughbred like this is what you look for, it's actually not, you want a horse who’s got a good temper, so down the road they’re easier to handle and train.

Mrs. Wyeth knew Union Rags was special from the get go, but was forced to sell him. Her accountant told her she was losing too much money and had to sell more horses, so that is why he was sold for the price of $145,00 at the 2010 Fasig-Tipton August sale. Then Union Rags mother, Tempo was experienced hemorrhaging problems later that year, and would never be able to have a foal again. Wyeth felt that she had sold the best foal she had ever raised, and just had to buy him back. She studied Rags breeding and realized she just couldn’t let this colt get into someone else's hands. So, she went to the 2011 Florida Fasig-Tipton 2 year old sale and bought him back for $390,000. Now, she has one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby, if not the number 1 favorite.

Then, you look at Union Rags tremendous trainer - Michael Matz. It would be a wonderful story to see this man win the derby once again. He was the trainer of the popular 2006 KY derby winner, Barbaro. Everyone was positive that the triple crown drought would end with Barbaro. It wouldn’t quite work out that way when Barbaro injured his hind leg in the beginning of the Preakness Stakes (2nd Triple Crown race) and they tried to save this athlete, but on January 29th, 2008 Barbaro developed Laminitis and was put down. Barbaro was our nation’s horse, and Matz believes that Union Rags will be the next star. Matz thinks that Union Rags is just as good as Barbaro was, if not better. We never really knew how good Barbaro was, he won on turf and dirt, with many beautiful hand rides, and was something very special, he was the equine version of god, Matz once quoted. To see this gallant colt win the derby would be a dream come true for both his owner and trainer and all his beloved fans. I know, it would touch my heart, along with millions of others and it will put a tear to your eye. I don’t see why this colt can’t win the derby? The moment I seen his debut win, I knew from the get go that he was going to be a KY derby favorite. He has to be the most beautiful horse ever, is the one reason why he caught my eye, the other was, he runs just like Barbaro does.

Burco's favorite 3-yr. old -Union Rags

He looks like a man among boys, he’s the equine version of Brad Pitt. I don’t just look at Union Rags beauty, I look at his pedigree, class and an outstanding record. Some people question his ability to run 1 ¼ miles by looking at his pedigree, but if you watch all his races, he gallops out very nicely, suggesting that he can run another furlong or two. He always comes flying at the end, and he looks like he could do this all day, so the distance question is no question for me, he’s perfectly suited for the Derby’s classic distance. He’s out of Dixie Union, which he won a few Gr. 1’s, 2’s and 3’s. Most of his races at which he won were around 6 furlongs to 1 ⅛ mile. Union Rags has won the Gr. 2 Fountain Of Youth Stakes this past winter, along with the Gr. 1 Champagne and Grade 3 Saratoga Special when he was two. He was 2nd to a nose in the Breeders Cup Juvenile last fall, when he lost to the great White “Hansen.” Some claim that he probably would've won, if he wasn’t so green. Rags was swerving all over the track and couldn’t keep running in a straight line for nothing. His other only loss was in the Florida Derby, where he lost to Take Charge Indy. He ran a very, good game 3rd.

Again, this colt was going to probably win if he wouldn’t have had such a horrible trip. Union Rags was put in mid pack, where he usually likes to sit off the pace, but he was boxed in by El Padrino, in which Jesus Castellano was riding the whole time. Jesus was doing this on purpose, everyone knows how good Union Rags is, and the main goal for a jockey is to have the best ride out there and make everyone else around you suffer, and this is exactly what he did. Once, Union Rags had a spot to get through, he took it and made up the most ground out of anyone but there was just too little track left to catch up to the winner.

This was a great experience for both Rags and his jockey Julien, and I know they will use this on derby day to win America's favorite race. Rags still looked glorious in defeat, and he didn’t have to win the FL derby, since he already has enough earnings to get into the derby gate’s, so why have this colt amped up to his highest ability? Matz knows what he’s doing and will have Union Rags to his peak on derby day.

If I was betting, I would definitely put my money on this horse. I wish the best of luck to Union Rags, and his whole team and I hope they get a great gate position which is a great key in the Derby. I hope this horse is wearing the roses at the end of the day.

Go Team Rags! ~Jordyn Burco