Union Rags works for Belmont

Chadds Ford Stable's Union Rags, a troubled seventh in the Kentucky Derby, worked five furlongs in 1:01 May 24 at Fair Hill training center in preparation for the June 9 Belmont Stakes.

"He looks well and went really nice," trainer Michael Matz said. "We're looking forward to running him in the Belmont, and hopefully, he'll get a clean trip this time and have a chance to show what he can do.

"You cannot believe the texts and Twitter Peter [assistant Peter Brette] has been getting. One guy said he was the groom of Damascus and told him we should run in the Met Mile and wheel him back in the Belmont. Another person told Peter he didn't understand why his Ragozin number got worse from the Florida Derby to the Kentucky Derby. Well, it got worse because he was never given an opportunity to run."

Matz said Union Rags, who suffered some minor cuts in the Derby, will have one more work at Fair Hill and he hopes to get jockey John Velazquez to come down and work the colt. As of now, travel plans to Belmont Park are undecided.

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