Union Rags

There were two Grade I races last weekend in North America, one at Saratoga and one at Del Mar. One was on the dirt and one was on the turf, one at 10 furlongs and the other at nine furlongs. Other than both being carded for 3-year-old fillies, what did they have in common? Each was won by a daughter of a Lane's End sire. Union Rags captured the GI Alabama Stakes with Power Squeeze, while Twirling Candy took the GI Del Mar Oaks with Iscreamuscream. To add to the...

Once again American investors have shown an increasing receptivity to European bloodlines, this time at the big yearling sale in Deauville. For now, however, we're still only talking about a minority even among those with the resources required to import elite yearlings. But with a reciprocal curiosity also growing in Europe--thanks to Justify, in particular, but also to those breeze-up pinhookers now preparing their next raid on the September Sale--it does feel as though the overdue renewal of transatlantic traffic is beginning to gain commercial traction. We still have a...

With the connections of the well-reputed 'Grizzley' Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) opting to wait another week to face the boys in the GI Travers S., Power Squeeze (Union Rags) took full advantage of the Kentucky Oaks winner's absence and stormed home a narrow winner in the 10-furlong GI Alabama Stakes at Saratoga Saturday. MGSW Chatalas (Gun Runner) broke quickly, going to the front with a host of pursuers at her heels. Meanwhile, Power Squeeze tried to establish a clear path from Post 3, but was squeezed back as America's Vow...

Power Squeeze may have finally put it all together in time to pick up 20 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks with a win in Saturday's Suncoast S. Racing along the Mid-Atlantic last season, it took the $90,000 OBSAPR grad three tries to break her maiden when she caught an off-the-turf one-mile event at Delaware Oct. 7. After a short layoff, Jorge Delgado shipped Power Squeeze south to Gulfstream where she upset the Cash Run S. at odds of 8-1 to open her 3-year-old season Jan. 1. Second...

Today we'll consider some of the sires standing between $10,001 and $19,999. For a long time, I called this the Lookin At Lucky zone. But don't worry, we won't be deploring his neglect yet again: he's staying in Chile, where they evidently appreciate him rather more. Plenty of horses in this bracket have recently relinquished their brief window of commercial opportunity, and are now hanging around to discover whether they might join the very small group whose first runners generate a fresh vogue. Even with the newcomers out of the...

A colt by Union Rags is the latest yearling supplemented to the 2023 Texas Summer Yearling Sale. Cataloged as Hip 271, the New York-bred colt is out of a Mineshaft half-sister to graded-stakes placed Divine Elegance (Uncle Mo) and from the family of SW/GISP Standard Deviation (Curlin). This addition, as well as the eight previously supplemented yearlings, is posted on the interactive catalog and will all be featured in a paper supplement catalog available on the Lone Star Park sales grounds and sale pavilion ahead of the sale which begins...

3rd-KEE, $100k, Msw, 3yo, f, a7f, 2:04 p.m. ET Bridlewood Farm homebred UNION HARMONY (Union Rags), produced by a half-sister to the superstar trio of Into Mischief, Beholder and Mendelssohn, kicks off her career for trainer Brendan Walsh. Union Harmony's dam Leslie's Harmony (Curlin), a $1.1-million KEESEP yearling, was winless in two tries for Bridlewood Farm and trainer Todd Pletcher. Union Harmony, scratched from the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, worked four furlongs from the gate in :47 1/5 (2/56) at Keeneland Apr. 16. This same Union Rags over Smart Strike...

Fasig-Tipton has added a pair of offerings to its March Digital Sale, which is now open for bidding. Bidding closes Tuesday, March 7 at 2 PM ET. The new entries include: Mount Craig (Arrogate) (Hip 11): 4-year-old racing/stallion prospect who placed in maiden special weight company at Oaklawn Park on March 2. Mount Craig hails from the immediate family of Eclipse Champion Good Magic (Curlin). Cajun Kid (Lemon Drop Kid) (Hip 42): 5-year-old broodmare prospect from the immediate family of Grade I winners Union Rags (Dixie Union) and Declaration of...

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Chukyo and Nakayama Racecourses, including the first foal from a big-figure Keeneland November purchase: Saturday, January 14, 2023 4th-CKO, ¥11,850,000, Newcomers, 3yo, 1400m LA LA BELLEVILLE (f, 3, Union Rags--Divine Praises, by Medaglia d'Oro) is the latest to make the...

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this Saturday running at Hanshin Racecourses: Saturday, November 12, 2022 4th-HSN, ¥13,400,000 ($94k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m CUPIDON (c, 2, American Pharoah--Chocolate Pop, by Cuvee) is a half-brother to dual-surface graded winner and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf runner-up Airoforce (Colonel John) and was hammered...

Quality Road will lead the pack at the Lane's End stallion barn for the 2023 breeding season, standing for $200,000. Up from $150,000 in 2022, the 16-year-old is responsible for 2022 GI New York S. winner Bleecker Street, GII Rebel S. runner-up Ethereal Road, GI American Pharoah S. runner-up National Treasure, as well as three new 'TDN Rising Stars.' In the sales ring, he had seven yearlings bring seven figures at the 2022 Keeneland September Sale, including the $2.5-million colt who topped the sale. At $75,000, the same fee he...

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this three-day weekend, which features the resumption of racing at Tokyo and at Hanshin: Saturday, October 8, 2022 4th-TOK, ¥13,400,000 ($92k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1300m GRAN PHARAOH (c, 2, American Pharoah--Sweet Tooth Sweety, by Smarty Jones) was bought back on a bid of $120,000 at...