Florida Derby

Today is the Florida Derby and Union Rags is expected to go off as the favorite in the race (Post time 5:40 PM) which will be telecast live on NBC Sports Television (formerly Versus) with Tom Hammond as the host.

Of course, you have to remember Barbaro on a day like this when he won the same race for the same trainer, Michael Matz and his assistant, Peter Brette. It was Brette who had the best quote of that day saying that Barbaro went into the race a boy and came out a man. If you remember Barbaro won the race by a head and proved that he could respond to a challenge, actually probably the biggest racing challenge of his career.

Union Rags has drawn the #6 post and he should easily go off as the favorite for sentimental as well as legitimate racing reasons. He is the horse to beat and has shown that in prior starts. El Padrino, trained by Todd Pletcher, is a challenger as is Neck and Neck ridden by Barbaro's old Jockey, Edgar Prado.

Speaking of comparisons, even Matz is making them: “We gave Barbaro five weeks to the Derby, just as we’re giving Union Rags,” Matz said. “We thought that was the proper amount of time. With Barbaro, the media didn’t think that. They’re both big strong horses. Union Rags will have only two races at 3, but he did more as a 2-year-old. This horse has a ways to go to prove what Barbaro did, but we hope we get the same results.”

The back story of course is the stuff of legends: owner Phyllis Wyeth (wife of painter Jamie) bred the horse, sold him and then bought him back for three times the selling price because she had a dream that Union Rags should stay in the family. She is wheelchair bound but one determined lady. It all would make for a very happy ending.

But this, of course, is a business in which anything can happen. Above all, let's hope for a safe trip for all and a competitive race for Union Rags.