Union Rags Ragtime Returns to Winning Ways in Dogwood

Churchill Downs saw ‘TDN Rising Star’ Ragtime overcome a slow start to capture the GIII Dogwood Stakes with an impressive late surge Saturday.

The Union Rags filly, racing without blinkers, broke awkwardly and found herself trailing the field early. ‘TDN Rising Star’ Delightful Claire (Vekoma) set the early fractions, clicking through an opening quarter in :22.84 and a half in :45.55 while establishing a commanding lead.

Ragtime, guided by Junior Alvarado, patiently rode the rail around the turn before encountering traffic in the stretch. Finding a seam to her outside as 28-1 longshot Strong State (Tom’s d’Etat) launched a bid from the far outside, Ragtime unleashed a devastating turn of foot to pull away convincingly.

Strong State held second, with Delightful Claire settling for third. The final time for seven furlongs was 1:22.35.

The victory marks Ragtime’s first graded stakes win, improving her career record to three wins from four starts.

“She really ran a big race today,” said Kenny McCarthy, assistant to trainer Bill Mott. “The team in New York did a great job with her before she came to Kentucky. Junior did a great job not to panic after breaking slowly. She was able to have a target to run at and finished up really well.”

Alvarado echoed those sentiments: “She ran huge. Broke a little slow, relaxed and came with a big run.”

Prior to Saturday’s triumph, Ragtime was last seen finishing a game second by a neck to Kilwin (Twirling Candy) in the GI Test Stakes at Saratoga on August 2. The Godolphin homebred had previously dominated in her first two career starts at the Spa, breaking her maiden on June 6 before taking a first-level allowance on July 5.

Ragtime and Junior Alvarado win the G3 Dogwood Stakes presented by @resracingky! pic.twitter.com/fFaCv65EmJ

— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns)

Ragtime and Junior Alvarado win the G3 Dogwood Stakes presented by September 20, 2025

Pedigree Notes

Ragtime emerges from a prolific female family with multiple stakes producers. She is the most recent runner from her dam, who has a yearling half-sister by Mystic Guide as her last registered offspring.

Among Ragtime’s notable half-siblings is GSW Snowbell (Tapit), who produced SW Twice as Sweet (Candy Ride {Arg}) and is the granddam of GSW Serendipity (Street Sense). Stakes-placed Mrs. Norris (Bernardini) produced SP Hedwig (Maclean’s Music), while full-sister Mysterious Ways is the dam of Listed winner Stern Chaser (Astern {Aus}) and Listed-placed In a Spin (Hard Spun). Another half-sister, Bicolour (Tiznow), produced SP Carlisle Bay (Speightstown).

The first dam Burmilla is herself a graded stakes winner and half-sister to multiple graded winner Magicalmysterycat (Storm Cat), who produced GSP A.P. Magic (A.P. Indy) and is the granddam of GSP Pavlovian (Pavel). This extended female family includes MSP Jimmy’s Dailys (Vekoma) and several Group 1 winners in Peru.

DOGWOOD S. PRESENTED BY RESOLUTE RACING-GIII, $300,000, Churchill Downs, 9-20, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:22.35, ft.

1–RAGTIME, 118, f, 3, by Union Rags
1st Dam: Burmilla (GSW, $170,285), by Storm Cat
2nd Dam: Nannerl, by Valid Appeal
3rd Dam: Allouette, by Proud Birdie

‘TDN Rising Star’. 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-William I. Mott; J-Junior Alvarado. $181,900. Lifetime Record: GISP, 4-3-1-0, $397,400. *1/2 to Snowbell (Tapit), GSW, $373,490. Werk Nick Rating: B+.

2–Strong State, 118, f, 3, Tom’s d’Etat–Kram, by Colonel John. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($18,000 Ylg ’23 KEEJAN). O-Highlander Training Center; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Albert M. Stall, Jr. $59,000.

3–Delightful Claire, 118, f, 3, Thousand Words–Izshelegal, by Maria’s Mon. ‘TDN Rising Star’. ($65,000 Wlg ’22 FTKNOV; $250,000 Ylg ’23 FTKJUL). O-Rigney Racing LLC; B-Gmbracstables LLC, Mr. & Mrs. Ramon Rangel & Mr. & Mrs. Zachary Mad (KY); T-Philip A. Bauer. $29,500.

Margins: 2 1/4, HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.98, 28.62, 2.72.

Also Ran: Mega Mil, Sturgeon Moon, Gerlin’s Empire, Echo Sound. Scratched: Kay Cup.