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Local Owners Win Big With Union Rags At Belmont Stakes

By Molly Daly

CHADDS FORD, Pa. (CBS) - Union Rags, the winner of the Belmont Stakes, is from Chadds Ford, Delaware County and you may have heard of his trainer and his owners.

"The horse is owned by Phyllis and Jamie Wyeth. Jamie's a painter, and Phyllis has been in the area from a horse family," says Michael Matz, who also trained Barbaro.

He says Phyllis Wyeth raised Union Rags, then sold him as a yearling for $145,000, but couldn't get him out of her mind.

"And, then bought him back for $390,000 as a two-year-old-in-training sale. And now he's made almost $2 million."

It didn't come easy. At the Kentucky Derby, Union Rags got stuck in traffic, finishing 7th, then sat out the Preakness. Entering him in the Belmont wasn't a sure thing.

"It was a little bit of a question mark. But, I just felt this horse needed a chance -- deserved a chance -- at one of the Triple Crown Races."

And that's a gamble that paid off.

READ: Union Rags nips Paynter to win Belmont Stakes

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