Union Rags and Horses That Benefitted from Rest at Belmont

With Union Rags' winning the 2012 Belmont Stakes, trainer Michael Matz's decision to rest the horse rather than run him at Pimlico looks like a great one. By allowing Union Rags to recover after his seventh-place finish at the Kentucky Derby, Matz set the horse up to have a great showing at the Belmont.

And Union Rags delivered.

At the third race in the Triple Crown, a well-rested horse is much more important because of the wear and tear of the condensed Triple Crown schedule.

Here are some other horses that finished well thanks to some much needed rest.

Atigun

Atigun came into the Belmont as one of the most rested horses in the entire field. One of the few horses that didn't compete at either Churchill Downs or Pimlico, Atigun hadn't run a race since April 14.

The rest certainly helped out, as Atigun remained strong throughout the race and kept toward the front of the pack the entire time.

A third-place finish showed that Atigun is a very capable horse who will pose a threat in the future, as the Belmont was only his fourth race.

Street Life

Street Life was another horse which benefited from not racing at either the Derby or the Preakness. The Belmont represented Street Life's fourth race ever and his second at the Belmont track, as he placed third at the Peter Pan race at Belmont in May.

Street Life ran a strong race throughout and had fresh legs, as he gained on the field down the home stretch and was rewarded with a finish just outside the top three, at No. 4.

Union Rags

When Michael Matz made the decision to rest Union Rags after his disappointing, seventh-place finish at the Derby, he indirectly sealed the horse's fate as the winner of the Belmont.

Union Rags ran a tremendous race and was able to make a comeback that delivered an exciting race for fans, most of whom entered the event disappointed by I'll Have Another's absence.

Union Rags' great comeback can be attributed to the fact that he was much better rested than his opponent, Poynter. Union Rags was given two more weeks off than Poynter, and in a race that came down to a photo finish, that could have been all the difference.