With his thrilling win at the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, Union Rags moved into position as the top 3-year-old colt after the retirement of I’ll Have Another. While the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner is a favorite to win the Eclipse Award for horse of the year, Union Rags does have an opportunity to surpass the retired colt with a strong finish. Michael Matz, the trainer of the Belmont winner thinks his colt has a shot to challenge for the award. Via Reid Cherner of USA Today:
Belmont Stakes 2012: Union Rags Tries To Challenge I’ll Have Another For Horse Of The Year
“It all depends on how we finish the season,” said trainer Michael Matz about winning the Eclipse Award as top 3-year-old and Horse of the Year. “Who knows what could go on? We’re not throwing in the towel by any means.”
Union Rags promptly returned to his home in rural Fair Hill, Md. after his win Saturday afternoon. The colt will run again this summer, with Matz pegging his next race at one of two tracks -- either the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga on July 28 or The Haskell at Monmouth Park on July 29. After that, he will target the Travers Stakes on August 25 at Saratoga.
For more post-race coverage of the Belmont Stakes, stay with this StoryStream and check out SB Nation’s horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come. There, you’ll also find A Beginner’s Guide To Following Horse Racing and a glossary of horse racing terms.
See More:
