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Union Rags on course for Juvenile Trainer Michael Matz, who was spending Sunday at a horse show watching his children compete, reported that undefeated Union Rags returned from his victory in the Grade 1 Champagne is excellent order. "He ate up everything last night and again this morning," said Matz, who trains Union Rags for Phyllis Wyeth's Chadds Ford Stable. "He was out in the paddock for about two hours this morning, so everything looks good." The Champagne, Union Rags' third victory in as many starts, gave the colt an automatic berth in the 1 1/16-mile Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs on November 5. "If everything goes well, we would like to go to the Breeders' Cup," said Matz, whose only Breeders' Cup starter to date is Round Pond, winner of the 2006 Distaff at Churchill Downs. "We haven't mapped out a schedule for him; there's time for that. But he will train at Fair Hill and go down to Churchill in sufficient time for the race." A son of Dixie Union, Union Rags broke his maiden going five furlongs at Delaware Park in July, then won the Grade 2 Saratoga Special by 7 1/4 lengths on August 15. He has earned $498,800 for Wyeth, who bred the colt, put him up for sale and, after changing her mind, bought him back for $390,000. Steve Asmussen picked a good day to make a rare appearance at Belmont Park, winning four races on Saturday's card, including the Grade 1 Frizette with Stonestreet Stables and George Bolton's My Miss Aurelia. It was the first time in his recollection that he won four races on a single day at a NYRA track. "We've been pretty fortunate in the 'win races' category," Asmussen said on Sunday morning as he sat at the desk normally occupied by Toby Sheets, his Belmont-based assistant. "We had a seven-win day at Lone Star once, and we had two six-win days at the Fair Grounds. I'm very proud of how well they ran. "Obviously, My Miss Aurelia is a tremendous filly, Grade 1 win, homebred. Just a lot of warm fuzzies about that." Asmussen's four winners were all ridden by Corey Nakatani, who became the third jockey in Belmont Park history to win six races on a single card. "I've had luck with him," Asmussen said of Nakatani, who is riding full-time on the East coast after having spent 23 years primarily in Southern California. "I had ridden Corey a couple of years ago when we went to (Oaklawn Park), and we had a lot of luck. This winter, when we went to California, he won on a few horses for us. He rode Nehro, who was second in the Derby and had a couple of good runs. Nice comfort level there, so we're pleased with that." Asmussen said all four of his winners -- including Ron Winchell's Tapizar, a Grade 3 winner who returned from an eight-month layoff to capture a contentious allowance/optional claiming race -- came out of their races in good shape. My Miss Aurelia and Tapizar will depart for Churchill Downs on Monday, Asmussen said. Plans remain undetermined for Vinery Stables' Western Aristocrat, who will now be under Asmussen's tutelage after winning Saturday's Grade 1 Jamaica Handicap under Nakatani for English trainer Jeremy Noseda. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin reported Sunday that Alpha and Miss Netta, respective runner-up and third-place finishers in the Champagne and Frizette, had both emerged from their races in good order. "Everyone came back in good shape and of this morning, all systems are 'go' for the Breeders' Cup (Juvenile and Juvenile Fillies), but we still have to discuss it with all the parties and see for sure," he said. Both juveniles were eye-catching maiden winners at Saratoga and made just their second starts in Saturday's stakes. Alpha got away slowly in the Champagne but kicked on in the stretch to grab second by a neck, while Miss Netta ran greenly as she trailed through the early stages of the Frizette, but came home well to collect show honors. Alpha and Miss Netta will be joined by dual Grade 1 winner It's Tricky, headed to the Ladies' Classic, and speedy Trappe Shot, looking at either the Sprint or the Dirt Mile, in the Breeders' Cup. Stopshoppingmaria, second as the favorite in the Frizette, returned from her effort in good order, trainer Todd Pletcher said. "She looked very good this morning," said Pletcher, adding that the Mike Repole-owned filly remained on schedule for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Churchill Downs on November 4. Stopshoppingmaria will be part of Pletcher's four-horse Breeders' Cup contingent, joining the Classic-bound Uncle Mo and Stay Thirsty and Juvenile Turf hopeful Finale. All four are scheduled to depart for Kentucky on October 24, according to Pletcher.
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