Belmont Stakes 2012: Union Rags Is Worth the Hype After Narrow Win

Union Rags was on the verge of going down in history as one of the more overrated thoroughbreds that horse racing had ever seen. But then, in the final stretch, he overcame Bob Baffert's Paynter, taking the 2012 Belmont Stakes by a neck.

Now, Union Rags can walk off into the sunset a winner and as a horse worthy of the hype that no one could understand following a disappointing effort at May's Kentucky Derby. 

After an unfortunate second-place finish at the 2011 Breeders' Cup Juvenile last November, Union Rags again came up short in the Grade I Florida Derby, showing third. 

Last month, Union Rags came into Churchill Downs as a favorite to win the Triple Crown's first leg. But he wound up finishing seventh and then skipped the Preakness Stakes two weeks later. 

Heading into this weekend's Belmont Stakes, Union Rags was perceived by many as all hype and no substance. Perhaps he would have even been forgotten entirely if not for I'll Have Another's unfortunate injury leading up to his date with history. 

We will never know for sure what would have happened if I'll Have Another had partaken in Saturday's race. But we now know that Union Rags is an elite racehorse, one that is more than worth the hype. He outlasted the field for a mile-and-a-half and proved his that potential could be made a reality on the track.

According to trainer Michael Matz (via ESPN):

"

We always thought this horse had Triple Crown potential, he had trouble in his second race and his third race. I do really think that this horse, when he has a clean trip and can show himself, is one of the best 3-year-olds in this crop. Whether he could have done something against I'll Have Another, I don't know, but it sure would have been fun to see.

"

We know that Union Rags had Triple Crown potential, not because of the hype coming out of his camp, but because he finally delivered on the grand stage. 

A thoroughbred's career is short, and any victory on the Triple Crown level is noteworthy. Union Rags finally got it done on Saturday, after previously falling short of expectations on the track. 

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