Belmont Stakes 2012 Winner: Union Rags Redeems Himself with Victory Over Paynter

Union Rags won the Belmont Stakes in thrilling fashion with a come-from-behind victory over Paynter that would have made I'll Have Another proud—redeeming himself after a failed effort at this year's Kentucky Derby.

He accomplished this victory due, in part, to a fantastic start—something that eluded the colt at Churchill Downs a little over a month ago. After getting off to the nice start, Union Rags was masterfully led by Hall-of-Fame jockey John Velasquez, who kept the colt in the middle of the pack druing most of the race.

Union Rags stayed in the middle until around the one-mile mark, sitting back as much as four lengths until Velasquez prompted him to kick it into high gear down the final stretch.

This is the third time in as many races that a horse has overtaken a Bob Baffert-trained horse to steal the win at the final moment, according to Yahoo!'s Pat Forde, via Twitter:

"

Triple Crown is over. Bob Baffert horse passed in the stretch for the third time in three races. Ouch.

— Pat Forde (@YahooForde) June 9, 2012"

Couldn't have said it better myself. 

The Daily's Dan Wolken laments the fact that I'll Have Another could have possibly won this race, due to the incredibly slow finish time:

"

The final time 2:30 and 2/5 is SLOW...Real slow. Will always wonder what might have been.

— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) June 9, 2012"

This finish by Union Rags proves that all the hype surrounding the colt earlier this year wasn't just hot air.

It's obvious in hindsight that he has "champion" written all over him, and there will surely be many lucrative opportunities for owner Phyllis Mills Wyeth, who will certainly make him a stud now that he's won the Belmont.

Union Rags has redeemed himself. He's proven once and for all he belongs among the great names of his generation in horse racing. The best part for Velasquez and Mills Wyeth is that the victory is all the sweeter considering the frustrations of the past month. 

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