Horse Racing News by Esther Marr

Hansen, who won this year's Gotham and was last year's champion 2-year-old male, will not start in the June 9 Woody Stephens at Belmont Park due to a low red blood cell count.

Trainer Michael Matz confirmed May 22 that Union Rags will be ridden by jockey John Velazquez in the June 9 Belmont Stakes.

Trainer Michael Matz and owner/breeder Phyllis Wyeth announced May 9 that they have decided to forego the May 19 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course with Union Rags.

Spring Hill Farm, who finished fourth in the March 10 Tampa Bay Derby, suffered a right knee fracture and will have surgery at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington March 14.