Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Union Rags will enter stud next year at William S. Farish's Lane's End Farm near Versailles, Ky., the farm announced Aug. 16. Bred by Phyllis Wyeth and raced under her stable name of Chadds Ford Stable, Union Rags retired earlier this year with a record of five wins, one second, and one third from eight starts with earnings of $1,798,800.
"We are thrilled that Phyllis Wyeth has chosen to stand Union Rags at Lane's End," Farish said. "He has all the makings of a top stallion. He was a brilliant racehorse with outstanding conformation, and he has an exceptional pedigree."
A son of the deceased Lane's End stallion Dixie Union and the winning Gone West mare Tempo, Union Rags easily won the first three starts of his career at age 2 for trainer Michael Matz. After his victorious track debut, he defeated his rivals by 7 1/4 lengths in the Three Chimneys Saratoga Special Stakes (gr. II). In his third start he captured the Champagne Stakes (gr. I) by 5 1/4 lengths. In his final race at 2, he ran just a head short to finish second behind subsequent champion Hansen in the Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I).
In his first start at 3, Union Rags impressed with a four-length victory in the Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II). He then ran third in the Florida Derby (gr. I) before a troubled seventh-place finish as the second choice in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). The colt captured the Belmont in his final start, defeating such runners as eventual Haskell Invitational Stakes (gr. I) winner Paynter and Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) victor Dullahan.
"We're excited about him because he's a son of Dixie Union and his grandsire is Dixieland Band," Farish said about two stallions who distinguished themselves at Lane's End. "He's a third generation stallion for us.
"He's a gorgeous individual with a terrific pedigree and a fantastic race record," added Farish, who first took notice of the colt in the Saratoga Special. "I thought he was a leading sire prospect because of what he accomplished the two years."
Union Rags was retired July 20 after sustaining a small lesion in his left front suspensory.
Union Rags, who is with Matz at Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland, is scheduled to arrive at Lane's End before the Keeneland September yearling sale.
A stud fee will be announced at a later date.
