Please analyze Hansen and Union Rags conformation?

Conformation in both is awesome, both are fit visually and physically both running machines. Union Rags grew into a massive physical specimen nearly 17 hands tall. Both have undergone many changes including Hansen learning a new running style.

If you remember Hansen edged Union Rags by a head in the BC Juvenile and was awarded the Eclipse Award for top 2-year-old male of 2011. Now into their 3-year-old seasons, they both continue to progress. Union Rags returned from a nearly four-month layoff and cruised to an impressive four-length victory in the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park back in February. Then, after a disappointing loss to Algorithms on a sloppy track in the Holy Bull, Hansen rebounded with an easy win in the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct early March.

Union Rags is now set to race next in the Florida Derby next week and Hansen is being pointed to the Wood Memorial, so their next meeting is will most likely be at the 1 1/4-mile test the Kentucky Derby.

Hansen has versatility and could win the Derby going wire-to-wire but that's a tall order, so his new style, learning to relax while getting into position behind horses as he did in the Gotham is a plus. However, he must overcome adversity which is tough to do in such a large field as the derby.

Union Rags’ is filled with a lot of anxiety before a race where he's generally easy-going and has a good demeanor, with having great trainer in Michael Matz I'm not surprised. However, having enough stamina could be the only issue I see, he's a son of Dixie Union out of a Gone West mare, which he doesn’t have a typical classic distance pedigree. We shall see with his one prep of 1 1/8-mile race before the Derby ..

Bottom line anything can happen in the Derby as we've witnessed year after year.

The Thoroughbred's conformation is what makes an ideal runner, capable of covering more than twenty feet in a single stride while reaching speeds of up to forty miles per hour. The rear legs act much like springs as they bend and straighten during running. This tremendous "spring power" helps thrust the horse forward as its front legs provide "pull." The Thoroughbred's head and long neck also help to make running smooth and rhythmic. The neck moves in synchrony with the forelegs, aiding in forward motion and extending the "arc of flight," the time the Thoroughbred literally is airborne.

Every horse has some physical fault with regard to pedigree and conformation. The art of picking a horse out the right horse in the paddock is determining which physical characteristics will have an impact on the horses ability to race. Looking at the pedigree of the horse can provide clues to faults that may have been passed down from generation to generation, and whether or not those faults impact the horse on the racetrack.

Hope this helps..and you're correct..it's easier to judge by actually seeing the horse instead of just pictures. You haven't seen a horse until you've seen a race horse..lol.

:)