Union Rags gets first winner with first starter

Classic winner and freshman sire Union Rags got his first winner from his first starter on Wednesday, as the heavily favored Lady Stardust romped in the first 2-year-old maiden special weight of the year at Aqueduct.

The filly, who is out of the stakes-winning Gilded Time mare Hallelujah Trail, won by 5 1/2 lengths for trainer Wesley Ward, finishing the 4 1/2 furlongs in 52.08 seconds.

Union Rags, by Dixie Union, stands at Lane's End in Versailles, Ky. He was quick to come to hand as a juvenile, winning the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes and Grade 2 Saratoga Special and finishing second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He also was among the best of his class at age 3, winning the Belmont Stakes after several frustrating trips in earlier races.

Union Rags's first foals have been commercially popular, led by a colt sold for $975,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Florida sale of 2-year-olds in training.