Unioni Rags could be Derby favorite

Trainer Michael Matz believed what he couldn’t see – that Union Rags had a strong final workout amid a field of Kentucky Derby hopefuls that dotted Churchill Downs on Saturday at Louisville, Ky. When he was told the time – 59.80 seconds over five furlongs – his eyes grew wide before he quickly downplayed what could be the Derby favorite after Wednesday’s post-position draw. “I didn’t see very much,” said Matz, whose view was blocked in part because runners involved in a pre-Derby marathon made it difficult to get to the front side of the track. Matz is back at Churchill Downs with a Kentucky Derby hopeful for the first time since winning the 2006 Derby with Barbaro, who won his first six starts before breaking down at the Preakness. – Associated Press