Union Rags

NEWMARKET, UK—"That's what I love about this place," one shopper complained on Tuesday afternoon as a consignor extolled the virtues of the horse being paraded before him. "There's never any bad news." Well, he must have spent the last year under a rock. Pretty universally, all that anyone in the European industry sought from the new breeze-up cycle at Newmarket this week was a renewed sense of stability. And, while the closing session of the Craven Sale at Tattersalls proved somewhat tougher going for vendors than the first day, there...

SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stable LLC, Golconda Stables, Siena Farm LLC and Robert Masterson's Spielberg (Union Rags) has been confirmed to contest the GI Curlin Florida Derby Mar. 27 at Gulfstream Park. Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, the 3-year-old is expected to face GIII Holy Bull S. and GI Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. winner Greatest Honour (Tapit) in the nine-furlong test that has produced the winners of 60 Triple Crown events. "We'll see how he stacks up," Baffert said Friday. Spielberg, who is scheduled to...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 6th-GP, $55K, Msw, 3yo, f, 1m, post time: 3:41 p.m. EDT Hall of Famer Bill Mott will unveil a big ticket in ZURI (Union Rags), a $1 million graduate of the 2019 Keeneland September sale who is looking to add to the monumental success already achieved by her dam, Zayanna (Bernardini). The mare's previous four foals are all stakes performers and include GISW Wicked Whisper (Liam's Map), as well as GSW & MGISP Point of Honor (Curlin). Zuri goes to post in the Godolphin colors...

Multiple stakes winner and graded stakes-placed Saguaro Row (Union Rags--Charlie Girl, by Indian Charlie) has been added to Fasig-Tipton's Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale. Catalogued as Hip 675, Saguaro Row will be offered as a racing/broodmare prospect by Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services, agent. A 4 3/4-length debut winner at two, she captured the Pumpkin Pie S. and the Interborough S. at four and five and also finished second to GISW Spiced Perfection (Smiling Tiger) in the GIII Go For Wand H. Most recently, she finished third--beaten just 1 1/2 lengths--in defense of...

9th-Gulfstream, $47K, 4yo/up, 6f, post time: 4:42 p.m. Shadwell's ARHAM (Union Rags) was favored in his career debut for Todd Pletcher and justified the support with an eye-catching seven-length romp over this track and trip Dec. 17. The 4-year-old is out of Sanaaya (Smart Strike), herself the daughter of the Pletcher-trained Spun Sugar (Awesome Again), a winner of a trio of graded stakes, including the GI Apple Blossom H. and GI Go For Wand H. TJCIS PPs

It's been quite a week for the 3-year-old colt Carillo (Union Rags). He captured his debut at Aqueduct in 'TDN Rising Star'-fashion last Friday and summoned a whopping $875,000 from bloodstock agent Lauren Carlisle at Keeneland January Thursday. The Paul Pompa homebred sold as part of the complete dispersal of that late owner and breeder's estate, which was handled by Lane's End Farm.

Sent off as part of an entry at odds of 13-4, The Estate of Paul Pompa Jr.'s Carillo (Union Rags) overcame a bit of a sluggish start and an overland run around the far turn to graduate at first asking, earning the 'TDN Rising Star' designation in the process. Squeezed back a bit at the break, the homebred trailed early before improving in traffic to sit midfield as they hit the turn. Consigned to a wide trip around the bend, Carillo rallied deep into the stretch and sustained a long...

10th-Fair Grounds, $50,000, Msw, 1-2, 3yo, 6f, 1:11.06, ft, 2 1/4 lengths. Making his first career trip to the post, DEFEATER (c, 3, Union Rags--Internal Affair, by Orientate) spoiled the debuts of the Godolphin favored entry of Colonel Bowman (Curlin) and Gershwin (Distorted Humor) to take out the Saturday finale at Fair Grounds. A firming proposition to be off as the 8-5 second favorite, the $210,000 Keeneland September yearling graduate raced last but one as Gershwin conducted his business up front. That half-brother to 'TDN Rising Star' Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper)...

7th-Gulfstream, $40,000, Msw, 12-17, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:10.13, ft, 7 lengths. ARHAM (c, 3, Union Rags--Sanaaya, by Smart Strike) beat up on his four rivals for a sharp debut score here. Ridden hard from the outset after bumping a rival at the start, the 3-5 favorite forced the issue from the outside in second, cruised up to challenge for the top slot as they hit the quarter pole and proved much the best from there, romping by seven lengths over Catch On Emotional (Uncaptured). "It was very professional," winning trainer Todd...

3rd-AQU, $80K, 2yo, 8.5fT, 12:50 p.m. ET Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, William Freeman and Michael Valdes's AVIANO (Medaglia d'Oro) debuts for trainer Todd Pletcher, who recorded his 5,000th career victory last weekend and becomes eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2021. Out of graded stakes winner Bryan's Jewel (Rockport Harbor), the April foal realized a $775,000 final bid from Eclipse at last year's Fasig-Tipton Select Yearling sale in Saratoga. Bryan's Jewel, a daughter of $650,000 Fasig-Tipton buy Saphiria (Touch Gold)--trained by Pletcher--is also responsible for a Bodemeister filly ultimately named...

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 Kyoto and Tokyo Racecourses. Former Horse of the Year Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) makes her first start since June in defense of her title in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn), a race connections will use as a springboard...

Dancing Rags, the 2016 GI Alcibiades S. heroine, will be offered at this year's Fasig-Tipton November Sale on Nov. 8. and will represent the end of the line of an esteemed story in Thoroughbred racing and breeding as one of the last broodmares owned by the late Phyllis Wyeth. The daughter of Union Rags is in foal to top sire Curlin, and already has an Into Mischief yearling filly and a War Front weanling filly on the ground. "I think Dancing Rags should appeal to a lot of people," said...