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Union Rags gets in work at Keeneland
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| Union Rags will have one more pre-Derby work next week at Churchill Downs
(Keeneland/Coady Photography) |
Rather than worry about the prospects of a cold, damp weekend in Kentucky,
trainer Michael Matz opted to work Kentucky Derby contender Union Rags on Friday
morning at Keeneland.
The millionaire son of Dixie Union responded with a
half-mile work in :47 2/5 under regular exercise rider Peter Brette. Working
on his own, Union Rags posted fractions of :12, :24, :35 4/5 and out five
furlongs in 1:00 and six furlongs in 1:15.
"I thought he went well," Matz said. "It was nothing spectacular, but he did
it nice and galloped out fine. He was doing a two-minute lick before he got to
the half-mile pole. It was a good work and we will ask more of him in his next
work."
That next work would come at Churchill Downs next Saturday or Sunday
depending on weather according to Matz, who said Union Rags would ship to
Louisville most likely after the middle of next week.
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Matz, who gave his 2006 Kentucky Derby winner, Barbaro, some pre-Derby
training at Keeneland, was glad to get the work accomplished under sunny skies
and 60-degree temperatures.
"If it gets cold and damp as is predicted, he will be right here in this barn
in the morning," Matz said.
In other Kentucky Derby news:
At Palm Meadows on Friday, unbeaten Grade 1 Wood Memorial Stakes star Gemologist turned
five-eighths Friday in 1:00 4/5 over Palm Meadows fast dirt. The Todd
Pletcher-trained son of Tiznow is headed to the Derby in two weeks.
Fellow Derby hopeful and Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes victor El Padrino, fourth
in the Grade 1 Florida Derby last out, negotiated five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 at
Palm Meadows.
Grade 3 Spiral winner Went the Day Well is scheduled to work at Keeneland
Saturday morning. Dave Rock, assistant to trainer Graham Motion, said the work
would take place around 8:30 (EDT).
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