Kentucky Derby 2012 Results: Union Rags Deserves Second Chance at Preakness

The most disappointing horse at the Kentucky Derby was Union Rags, who was favored by most to win at 5/1, but finished seventh.

Most are ready to write off the young colt—especially when you combine this poor race with this poor effort at the Grade 1 Florida Derby—but Union Rags deserves another chance.

That chance must come at the Preakness, even though early indications are that Michael Matz's horse won't race at Pimlico.

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"Union Rags, trained by Fair Hill's Michael Matz, is not on the (Preakness possibles) list. The promising colt has now struggled against top fields in his three most important races."

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But let's take a closer look as to exactly why Union Rags struggled in Kentucky.

He came into Churchill with arguably the worst post position in the field. Union Rags is much more suited getting to the outside, but the No. 4 post prevented him from doing that. He got squeezed between Take Charge Indy and Dullhan immediately at the start of the Derby, was stuck near the rail, and never recovered.

However, when you take into account the fact Union Rags was at one point in 18th place and 20 lengths off the lead, his seventh-place finish, which was only seven-and-a-half lengths behind the winner, was very impressive.

This is still a very good, very fast horse. If he doesn't get botched again with an inside post, he can give I'll Have Another or Bodemeister a run for their money.

Matz, his trainer, agrees.

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“I don’t mind getting beat, I just don’t like getting beat the way he did in both the Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby. He never got a chance to run or really show his true ability.  He just went through the motions.”

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Nonetheless, Matz goes on to say his first thought is to not go to the Preakness.

This is a mistake. Union Rags has plenty of talent and can still shock people if put in the right situation. Why wait to prove that?

If he doesn't do it at the Preakness, watch out for Union Rags as a sleeper at Belmont. He deserves that second chance.

Somewhere.

Anywhere.

Kentucky Derby Results:

Finish	Horse	Jockey	Post	Odds
1	I'll Have Another	Mario Gutierrez	19	15-1
2	Bodemeister	Mike Smith	6	4-1
3	Dullahan	Kent Desormeaux	5	12-1
4	Went The Day Well	John Velazquez	13	30-1
5	Creative Cause	Joel Rosario	8	11-1
6	Liason	Martin Garcia	20	56-1
7	Union Rags	Julien Leparoux	4	5-1
8	Rousing Sermon	Jose Lezcano	7	40-1
9	Hansen	Ramon Dominguez	14	13-1
10	Daddy Nose Best	Garrett Gomez	10	14-1
11	Optimizer	Jon Court	2	42-1
12	Alpha	Rajiv Maragh	11	19-1
13	El Padrino	Rafael Bejarano	16	29-1
14	Done Talking	Sheldon Russell	17	39-1
15	Sabercat	Corey Nakatani	18	37-1
16	Gemologist	Javier Castellano	15	18-1
17	Trinniberg	Willie Martinez	19	44-1
18	Prospective	Luis Contreras	12	57-1
19	Take Charge Indy	Calvin Borel	3	11-1
20	Daddy Long Legs	Luis Contreras	12	57-1

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