Union Rags - 2012 Belmont Stakes (G1)

All trainer Michael Matz wanted was a chance for Union Rags to show what kind of horse he is. Saturday afternoon at Belmont Park, the hard-luck colt got that chance and the result was a thrilling victory over Paynter in the 144th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes.
Coming off a troubled-trip seventh in the Kentucky Derby, Union Rags was brilliantly ridden by new jockey John Velazquez in the 1 ½-mile Belmont, which lost its marquee horse on Friday when Triple Crown hopeful I'll Have Another was retired with an injured tendon. In the Derby and Preakness winner's absence, the crowd of 85,811 -- the largest for a non-Triple Crown Belmont and the sixth-largest in Belmont Park history -- made Derby third-place finisher Dullahan the slight favorite in the "Test of the Champion," with Union Rags a close second choice, also at 5-2.

[@cheeriosinabowl]

Way to go Rags, gutsy finish. I thought this would have been a boring race without I'll Have Another, but I was wrong. Super race.

[@gobabygirlzen]

Rags just needed a little good luck on his side. Just one hole to open for him and he finally got it! Good job Johnny V. and very gutsy run by Rags! Also quite impressed by Unstoppable U.

[@kennyk7859]

What heart ! Union Rags !

[@3ContheRoad]

My daughter's horse is fathered by Union Rags. Her name is On Strike.

[@elsahandersons3877]

My mare is also sired by him, so they are half siblings

[@416tayjay]

Also amazing that Street Life was dead last and came all the way to 4th! Kudos to them!

[@MamaBoots007]

I KNEW YOU COULD DO IT RAGS !!!! I LOVE YA BIG FELLA

[@SaddleGirl234]

Wish Ill Have Another was there to rip it up and become the 2012 triple crown winner!

[@Safania98]

Doubt it.

[@interstategar]

nowhere near Secretariat's 2:24, whose record may never be broken.

[@digits2skyharbor]

no arguement. UR in clear space and he pushes thru to win by at least 2. By the way, i will def say, valiant move to push threw the rail. most horses and jocks think twice about it.

[@peace-now]

I know. Game on Dude is another one. He flopped big time in the Dubai World Cup as the big fave. I did back Union Rags for this at 8/1 here. That was prior to IHA being scratched. I must say that IHA probably would have won easily, and I would have colllected for another show (just like Creative Cause). I must say the number 4 horse ran well in this race! Drosselmeyer was at a great price last time in the BCC! We learn as we go along.

[@416tayjay]

Its amazing that Paynter led the whole way until the final end of the race. Once I saw Union Rags, I knew he would be a champion. So sad there wasnt a Triple Crown winner this year but we will see next year! I bet if Ill Have Another would race in the Belmont, he would deffinently be a Triple Crown winner. So sad he got tendonitis. :(

[@ivanboesky1520]

Doped up horse I’ll Have Another. LOL

[@tylerdgreat]

union rags just beat me in this race, mike just getting old and forget to close the rail and lets johnny v. slips through. big kudos to mike matz.

[@digits2skyharbor]

Most impressed with Paynter and Street Life. Mike Smith really botched that up, he even admitted to it after words, saying no vet jock should ever allow a horse to pass him on the rail. I like Union Rags, but I would be surprised if he wins any major races going forward.

[@syddfaith6438]

My filly’s sire is union rags🥰

[@tubeyhamster]

My gelding is by Union Rags and looks a lot like his sire. What does your filly look like?

[@crunchx3254]

My gelding is also from Union Rags

[@crunchx3254]

Same

[@angelmontero6624]

2012 triple sub crown for Zayatta stable.

[@williamdunphy352]

Race Call: Tom Durkin

[@digits2skyharbor]

barrett- look at paynter's schedule. he raced a week before the derby, he raced preakness day, and then he raced at the belmont, not to mention the SA derby, he has 5 races total, all this year. considering it basically mirrors IHA's schedule, i was most impressed by him. loser way? i dunno what you mean by that, jocks do what they have to. although i do believe mike was more worried about atigun. UR was the fav anyway, whats impressive about the fav winning? spc in a slow time.

[@craigconley1872]

My fav horse!!!! Hope to meet him someday!!!!!

[@williamdunphy352]

1/4-23.72 1/2-49.23 3/4-1:14.72 Mile-1:38.85 1 1/4-2:04.39 Finish-2:30.42

[@jmarlow2153]

2:30!

[@JerkItLikeABoss]

I think Mike Smith is getting unnecessary criticism. He was never on the rail the entire race. He placed Paynter one off because Belmont is not known for being good on the rail. Two, he had Atigun coming on his outside. Smith went to the left lead to make sure Paynter engaged Atigun and by that time Johnny V and UR were starting to go through. Anyway the best horse won.

[@leobowman8149]

Interference in the stretch if union lost

[@DartsRme312]

paynter or bodiemeister for smith would be a hard choice...baffert says paynter was better in beginning of year...that would be a tough race....those 2 on the lead...wow....

[@fullstrutn]

street life was my wifes favorite

[@machismo64]

I'll Have Another would have aired if sound it looks like. The final time of more than 2:30 was pretty awful for a classic.

[@StFidjnr]

Union Rags and Payter battle which IMO more than made up for IHA scratching on the day before

[@reallytalldwarf]

you guys are forgetting that if IHA was in the race it would have been run differently...

[@peace-now]

Probably correct. I backed Union Rags each way at 8/1. I thought he would win this like Secretariat. I knew Dullahan was rubbish and Paynter wasn't up to it. As for the others, you never can tell. I'll Have Another probably would have won. Honestly, I was expecting a much better performance from Union Rags.

[@digits2skyharbor]

maybe i'm just sour that my exacta didnt pay what it could of! lol.

[@Caroni100]

Union Rags (March 3, 2009 - ) * Sire: Dixie Union * Grandsire: Dixieland Band * Dam: Tempo * Damsire: Gone West * Sex: Stallion * Breeder: Phyllis Mills Wyeth * Owner: Chadds Ford Stable * Trainer: Michael R. Matz * 8 Starts * 5 Wins * 1 Second * 1 Third * $ 1,798,800 earned Greetings from Venezuela. Union Rags (3 de Marzo, 2009 - ) * Padre: Dixie Union * Abuelo paterno: Dixieland Band * Madre: Tempo * Abuelo materno: Gone West * Sex: Semental * Criador: Phyllis Mills Wyeth * Propietario: Chadds Ford Stable * Entrenador: Michael R. Matz * 8 Salidas * 5 Primeros * 1 Segundo * 1 Tercero * $ 1,798,800 producidos Saludos desde Venezuela.

[@SonicStorm12]

Then perhaps instead of bragging about it, you can go and help those whose grammar and spelling is terrible. In my defense I was in a hurry and gave little thought to my spelling as I typed. Mostly, it was due to the fact that I simply had a stupid moment, and looking at it now I am quite surprised at the mistakes I made.

[@peace-now]

No. Union Rags was not rubbish after the Kentucky Derby, interfered with at the start, and by Dullahan. Saying Dullahan is rubbish is probably not true. I cannot understand why everyone was picking him. After all, he has form on grass and synthetic, but not on dirt or at Belmont. It will be interesting for the BCC. I guess that UR will be a hot favorite, and I would maybe give Paynter more of a chance there. I backed Creative Cause in the Preakness, and he flopped. So I am not always right.

[@StFidjnr]

Tom durkin's dream to calling a triple-crown winner died on the day before the Belmont stakes

[@teurypotter8755]

Kentucky Derby And Preakness Winner I'll Have Another Was Scratched With A Leg Injury Cost Him A Chance For The Triple Crown!

[@StFidjnr]

@@teurypotter8755 that robbed Tom durkin's last best chance of calling a TC winner

[@Kalgon1]

a healthy IHA wins the crown this year because 2:30 and 2/5ths is slow for 12 furlongs but we shall never know and it's a shame.

[@swanningaround]

He would have been had for interference, if he lost.

[@StFidjnr]

moot point

[@williambrewer7518]

The breed is falling off.