Union Rags heads to Louisville

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Lexington, KY (Sports Network) - Kentucky Derby contender Union Rags is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Thursday afternoon. The three-year- old colt has spent the last 11 days at Keeneland.

"He's been doing well here," said trainer Michael Matz before the colt left for Louisville.

Union Rags arrived at Keeneland on April 15, two weeks after he finished third to Take Charge Indy in the Florida Derby. Owned by Chadds Ford Stable, the colt had one workout since shipping in from the Palm Meadows Training Center. The three-year-old worked four-furlongs on April 20 in 47 2/5 seconds.

"I thought he went well," Matz said after the work last Friday. "It was nothing spectacular, but he did it nice and galloped out fine. He was doing a two-minute lick before he got to the half-mile pole. It was a good work and we will ask more of him in his next work."

Union Rags galloped out six-furlongs in 1:15.

The colt will be ridden by Julien Leparoux in the Kentucky Derby on May 5. Leparoux is looking for his first Run for the Roses victory. Matz saddled Barbaro in winning the 2006 Derby.