union rags

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by pucknut

can someone help me understand why some of the pundits are saying rags cant get the distance?
rags is supposedly a dual qualifer being out of dixie union and gone west what makes the 1 1/2 any more beyond his reach than the other major players
IHA, dullahan, or for that matter paynter

From a superficial scan of the pedigrees, Union Rags is by a stallion who bombed in his only attempt at a classic distance (unplaced in the '00 Travers). Likewise, his broodmare sire was demolished by Bet Twice and co. in the '87 Belmont.

I'll Have Another is by a Travers winner, with a broodmare sire who won multiple stakes at classic distances and has sired a BC Classic winner.

Dullahan is a half-brother to a Kentucky Derby winner who placed in both the Preakness and the Belmont.

Paynter is by a multiple winner at classic distances (including the BC Classic and Queen's Plate) out of a mare closely related to dual BC Classic winner Tiznow (who also won the Big Cap and Super Derby).

Of course, specifically for 12f, look no further than Optimizer, who is by champion English Channel, with a Belmont Stakes winning broodmare sire. Load up.