Union Rags Earns Riches in Thrilling Belmont Stakes

Union Rags closed late to nip Paynter near the finish line to win the 2012 Belmont Stakes.
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Union Rags, closing with urgency along the rail under John Velazquez, got up in the final couple of strides to win a heart-pounding finish over Paynter by a short neck in the 2012 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) June 9.

The lack of a Triple Crown quest by I’ll Have Another, scratched on the eve of the race with a tendon injury, took much of the luster off the 144th renewal of the Belmont. But Paynter, who led the race from the outset, and Union Rags put on a great show in the $1 million event anyway before 85,811 at Belmont Park.

Velazquez brought Union Rags into contention past mid-stretch and the son of Dixie Union responded in tight quarters along the rail to edge a determined but weakening Paynter as they reached the wire.

Michael Matz trains the winning homebred for Phyllis Wyeth’s Chadds Ford Stable. The bay colt was a troubled seventh in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum Brands! (gr. I) in his last start May 5. He sat out the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) win of I’ll Have Another and returned to Belmont as a fresh horse

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Jack Shinar is a frequent contributor to The Blood-Horse magazine and is part of their Digital Media department.

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