Union Strike became freshman sire Union Rags' first graded stakes winner at the highest level in the Sept. 3 Debutante Stakes (gr. I) at Del Mar. American Cleopatra, a full sister to American Pharoah, was second. The final time was 1:23.22.
Freshman sire Union Rags' first progeny to race also became his first winner April 20 at Aqueduct Racetrack, where Brian Kahn's homebred Lady Stardust won impressively for trainer Wesley Ward.
Judging by how they looked at Gulfstream and Ocala, the seven by Hansen left little doubt that he will help establish Tapit as an emerging sire-of-sires.
Led by a striking son of Tapit sold for $1.8 million, the Fasig-Tipton Florida sale of 2-year-olds in training produced across-the-board increases in all key statistical categories.
The Wavertree Stables consignment was the highest-priced colt not to hit $1M at the Fasig-Tipton Florida sale March 2. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert selected him for Charles Chu's Baoma Corp.
Lane's End will host a stallion season auction and open house to coincide with the upcoming Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Mixed Sale.
Multiple grade I winner Honor Code will stand for $40,000 off his third in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), while Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) winner Liam's Map is available for $25,000.
Glenye Cain Oakford looks at some of the opening session's sire results, recent commercial acceptance of turf-oriented pedigrees, and talks to Dr. Kendall Hansen as champion Hansen's first yearlings head for the ring.
A sampling of horses to watch at Monday night's opening session of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling auction.
Fasig-Tipton kept true to its tradition of showcasing the first yearlings by some of the nation's eagerly awaited young stallions at its July sale at Newtown Paddocks in Lexington.
Some positive economic indicators have Fasig-Tipton July participants expecting a robust market for select yearlings as the season's first major auction is set for July 9 in Lexington.
War Correspondent, the favorite and a full brother to Declaration of War, rallies to catch Aripeka to win the one-mile Appleton Stakes (gr. IIIT) by a neck March 28 at Gulfstream Park.
The Mr. Prospector sire line has been an American institution since his first runners hit the races in 1978. Those descending from his son Gone West have remained relatively true to Mr. Prospector's gift of brilliant speed.
Keeneland's January horses of all ages sale, topped by $2.2 million mare Up, closed Jan. 15 with across-the-board declines in a year that featured no major dispersals.
Declaration of War, third on his only start on dirt in last year's Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), will relocate to Coolmore's Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky., for the 2015 breeding season, it was announced Oct. 22.
The colt was born at William Shively's Dixiana Farm and is out of Shively's stakes winner Gleaming.
Union Rags 2014
Todd Pletcher will set a record if all five 3-year-olds he entered start in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), but the multiple Eclipse Award-winning trainer is most concerned about the race result.
by John P. Sparkman
Despite admirable objective accomplishments, some very good sires like Dixie Union seem fated not to be fully appreciated within their lifetimes.
Gibson Thoroughbred Farm in Washington state has purchased War Power, a multiple winner by Pulpit out of a half sister to 2012 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Union Rags.
Bloodhorse.com's most popular stories, blogs, videos, slideshows, and horse profiles for 2012.
A visual look at some of the top new stallions for 2013. View Slideshow
PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Distance concerns were, to a degree, dispelled by his determined triumph over the Remsen's nine furlongs.
Jason and Tom give their picks for the 138th Kentucky Derby. Watch Video
Lane's End stallion Smart Strike, a two-time leading sire, will stand in 2013 for $85,000, the same fee he stood for in 2012.
Hansen, last year's champion 2-year-old male and Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner, has been retired from racing due to a tendon injury.
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.
Five other contenders line up for their shot at a $1 million purse, joining the Bob Baffert trainee in trying to bring excitement to a summer season lacking major 3-year-old stars.
Owner Phyllis Wyeth is now shopping for a stud deal for Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Union Rags, her adviser Russell Jones said July 20.
Belmont Stakes winner Union Rags is out for at least the rest of the year.
Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Union Rags has sustained a minor suspensory injury and will miss the remainder of the 2012 season.
Jockeys Javier Castellano, Ramon Dominguez, Mario Gutierrez, and John Velazquez are the four nominees in the "Best Jockey" category for the 20th annual ESPY awards, ESPN announced June 27
PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Leading up to the 2012 classics, many speculated that Union Rags could be the horse to end the long wait for a 12th winner of the U.S. Triple Crown.
Velazquez will not require surgery on a broken right collarbone sustained in a June 16 riding accident at Churchill Downs, according to a medical update issued June 21 by the jockey's wife.
This free report is a look back at the 2012 Triple Crown by award-winning turf writer Steve Haskin. Download Report
Amid the chaos in New York, Union Rags delivers a brilliant performance. read blog
In his hauntingly melodic song, "Hallelujah," Leonard Cohen wrote, "Baby I've been here before. I know this room, I've walked this floor." read blog
Evan Hammonds recaps the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), True North Handicap (gr. II), Just A Game Stakes (gr. I), and Manhattan Handicap (gr. IT). watch video
Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Union Rags was a happy horse this morning in Michael Matz's barn at the Fair Hill training center in Elkton, Md.
Overnight ratings for the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) on NBC soared in spite of the scratch of Triple Crown-hopeful I'll Have Another, topping last year's overnight by 13% and the 2010 overnight by 74%.
View the excitement of Belmont Stakes 144. view slideshow
Lenny Shulman recaps the exciting 2012 Belmont Stakes won by Union Rags. Sponsored by Three Chimneys Farm. Watch Video
Trainer Michael Matz and Jockey John Velazquez answer questions after Union Rags' victory in the 2012 Belmont Stakes. Watch Video
A photo gallery of a typical morning with Belmont Stakes contender Union Rags. read blog
Union Rags, closing with urgency along the rail under John Velazquez, got up in the final couple of strides to win a heart-pounding finish over Paynter in the 2012 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) June 9.
Tom LaMarra and Pete Denk handicap the Belmont Stakes. Sponsored by TVG. Watch Video
We won't even begin to express our disappointment and disgust over the scratch of I'll Have Another. All we will do for now is kill the paragraphs already written and leave the leftovers. This is what is left of the Belmont. Read Blog
Donegal Racing's Belmont contender is now the 9-5 favorite in Saturday's classic. Dullahan finished third in the Kentucky Derby and skipped the Preakness Stakes.
Join Tom LaMarra and Pete Denk to talk Belmont Stakes and the Triple Crown. Read Transcript
When I'll Have Another attempts to become the 12th Triple Crown winner in racing history June 9 in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), he will be bucking more than the 34-year gap since the last one.
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