Union Rags Favorite in Florida Derby

CLEVELAND - Three key Derby contenders have been entered in tomorrow's Grade 1 Florida Derby.  Union Rags, El Padrino and Take Charge Indy will be in contention with six others for a purse totaling $1 Million dollars.

The past performances of the horses entered are not exhibiting a consistent style of running, this is particularly noticeable with Take Charge Indy.  He has the speed and the ability to close, but it's now or never for this contender. His last time out he was out run by El Padrino on the Gulfstream track. He will now need to sit slightly off the pace with Union Rags and come up strong if he wants to win.

Union Rags won the Fountain of Youth Grade 2 race over News Pending in February.  He is the short priced favorite for this race with credited earnings of $1,098,800.  El Padrino will break from the 8th post and will have to remain positioned just off the pace with Union Rags if he plans to catch him at the wire.  El Padrino has lost two of his total races but both were by less than a length.  It will be a tough race, but I think he's very capable. 

Post time for the Florida Derby is 5:40pm ET.