Keeneland: Kentucky Derby prospect Union Rags arrives from Florida

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Union Rags, the third-place finisher in the Florida Derby and a leading contender for the Kentucky Derby, arrived at Keeneland on Sunday morning after a long van ride from the Palm Meadows training center in Florida.

Michael Matz, the colt’s trainer, said that Union Rags arrived at his barn at Keeneland at 4:30 a.m. after an 18-hour trip and settled in “without a problem at all.”

Matz has not yet decided on the colt’s training schedule leading up to the May 5 Derby at Churchill Downs, but he said that he plans to work the colt either Saturday or Sunday. Union Rags will either work over the artificial surface at Keeneland or ship up to Louisville to work over the main dirt track at Churchill, Matz said.

“Right now, we’re taking this day-by-day,” Matz said.

Union Rags last had a timed workout on April 12 at Palm Meadows, working four furlongs in 48.80 seconds, the second-fastest work of 16 at the distance that morning.