Rags To Riches
From AlexBrownRacing
Rags to Riches FIRST FILLY IN 102 Yrs to win the BELMONT!!!!
Discuss: GO GIRL! SHE WON ! SHE WON ! Wow, Rags to Riches!!!! Rags To Riches DID it!!
HEART BREAKING NEWS - September 16, 2007: Rags to Riches Sustains Hairline Fracture in the Gazelle
NTRA Article - Rags to Riches Injured; out for the year
"The injury is not career ending, and she is expected to make a full recovery," Pletcher said in a press release. "It appears as though she sustained the injury during the stretch run. When she switched to the right lead, she came off the bridle and lugged in a bit. Though she cooled out fine following the race she appeared to be slightly off this morning.
"Subsequent X-rays discovered the hairline fracture," Pletcher added. "She is resting comfortably and will ship to Ashford Stud tomorrow where she will receive six weeks of stall rest to give the fracture time to heal. At the conclusion of her convalescence she will be re-X-rayed to determine when she will resume training. She will not race again until 2008."
Blog for Sept. 17, 2007: Sunday a sad day in the Pletcher barn - Farewell for a Bit
Rags to Riches left Belmont Park for Ashford Stud in Versailles, Kentucky, around noon today. The owners and Todd decided it would be best to give her 6 weeks off to help heal her injury. Sunday was a sad day in the Pletcher barn when this decision was made.
Breaking News - Updated July 31, 2007: Rags to Riches Heads to Saratoga
Rags Gives Team Pletcher A Farewell "Love Bite"
Rags to Riches had her final gallop this morning at 6 a.m. ET at Belmont Park. She resumed training yesterday and was her usual happy self on the track both mornings. She is doing well and looks great.
She loaded on the van at 8 a.m. ET with her barn mate Octave and the van arrived in Saratoga around noon. We were told she was welcomed by a group of fans and reporters as she pulled into the Spa.
We will miss her here but hopefully she will return to us next month after Saratoga's racemeet ends. She definitely left her mark here, as she bit me leaving a large bruise on my leg this morning while she was on the track. She had to make sure we knew who was in charge one last time before she shipped out!
Rags Galloped this morning, will gallop tomorrow, and then van to Saratoga
“The Alabama is a possibility,” Pletcher said, adding he would be at Belmont to supervise the gallop. “I need to watch her train for the next week and obviously how she breezes. All of that is going to be critical in terms of what has become a tight schedule. I'll play that by ear for the remainder of the week and go from there.”
Pletcher is still waiting to hear the results of Dr. Thorpe's findings
Rags to Riches is at her stall at Belmont Park after getting examined by Paul Thorpe, the attending veterinarian of owners Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith. Pletcher is still waiting to hear the results of Thorpe's findings.
Thorpe was still in the process of going over his findings and also looking over X-rays taken at New Bolton Center in Philadelphia. Rags to Riches had the equine overhaul after being pulled up during a work a week ago Sunday at Belmont Park.
Trainer Todd Pletcher said between races Friday afternoon at Saratoga Race Course that Rags to Riches is ”50-50” to make her next scheduled start in the Alabama Stakes (G1) on August 18 at Saratoga.
“I don't have a great understanding of it, but a lot of the tests are subject to how you read them. I know that there's nothing majorly wrong with her. We did enough tests before she left Belmont to know that.”
Local Vet Finds Rags Sound - Team Pletcher Taking Every Precaution
ELMONT, NY -- 2007 Belmont Stakes winning Filly Rags To Riches appears to be sound and in good condition after being examined by Dr. Steve Allday, this morning at Belmont Park.
Under Dr. Allday's recommendation the filly will be sent to New Bolton for a complete physical. "Although everything seems to be fine, in order to be thorough she will have a complete physical done, " said Pletcher. "Though her race plans will be made after the exam, she remains under consideration for the Alabama, at Saratoga, August 18."
NEW YORK - Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches has a slight fever and won’t run in Saturday’s $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks.
The 3-year-old filly sensation was expected to be the overwhelming favorite in her first race since becoming the first of her sex to win the Belmont in 102 years.
“We’re going to pass on the Oaks,” Rags to Riches trainer Todd Pletcher said Monday morning of the Grade 1 race for fillies. “Her temperature was 101 degrees — not high but a little beyond normal range.”
Rags to Riches prompts TV shift
The presence of Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont Park on July 21, has prompted officials from ESPN to make a dramatic change to its television schedule.
The CCA Oaks, restricted to 3-year-old fillies, was to be shown on delayed tape during a one-hour broadcast on ESPN2 that was to have originated from Del Mar and included live coverage of the San Diego Handicap beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern. Now, the CCA Oaks will be shown live on ESPN in a one-hour telecast from Belmont beginning at 5 p.m. Eastern. There will be no live coverage of the San Diego.
"Rags to Riches is a story," said David Miller, the senior coordinating producer for horse racing at ESPN. "She was a huge story in the Belmont, being the first filly to win in 102 years. We want to document it and be the source of record for the sport."
Click Here to Preview Todd Pletcher's Interview with Jeannine Edwards for CCA Oaks
Belmont Win!
The 2007 Belmont: A View from the Crowd
Great USA Today Slide Show Recap of the 2007 Belmont Stakes
Rags to Riches Daily Musings - Read Her Blog at NTRA.com for the Latest
Rags to Riches blog debuts on NTRA.com
Blog for August 2, 2007: Thunder Chicken - New Stable Pony
Blog for July 31, 2007: Rags to Riches Heads To Saratoga
Blog for July 27, 2007: 'Rags' Returns to Belmont and Will Get One More Check-up"
Blog for July 25, 2007: Readers' Responses
Blog for July 18, 2007: Back to Normal
Blog for July 17, 2007: 'Rags' Skipping Oaks, Mailbag
Blog for July 10, 2007: Getting Ready For The CCA Oaks
Blog for July 2, 2007: On Target For CCA Oaks
Blog for June 27, 2007: Todd Pletcher Answers Questions
Blog for June 25, 2007: Back to Work
Blog for June 20, 2007: Creatures of Habit
Blog for June 15, 2007: Back On Track
2007 Belmont Photos
Stumbling at the Gate and Recovering to Win: A MIRACLE!!!
Articles: Rags to Riches Wins the Belmont!!!
Pletcher basks in Belmont 'Riches'
With Belmont win, Rags to Riches defined her career
Steve Haskin's Belmont Recap: Wonder Woman
Girl Power: Rags to Riches wins Belmont
It's the filly! Rags to Riches takes Belmont Stakes
A Filly Wins the Belmont; Rags to Riches Outduels Curlin
Rags to Riches puts Levy County training on display for world
Video Tributes Honoring Rags to Riches
NEW TRIBUTE: Lady of the Dirt - Posted in September, 2007
Bump's Notes Review of the 2007 Belmont Stakes: New York, New York!
Rags to Riches –Belmont 2007 Week
A Filly for the Ages Slide Show from Bloodhorse.com
Rags to Riches, Against the Music
Rags to Riches, Promiscuous Girl
Pictures from her Kentucky Oaks Win
(first and 3rd photos credits of webshots/takechargelady)
Guess who will run against the boys at the Belmont!!!
Belmont Gets Richer With Addition of 'Rags'
Washington Post: Rags to Riches to Make Run at the Boys
Rags to Riches Out to Win Belmont Stakes by Helena Independent Record
Rags to Riches will Race the Boys in Belmont MSNBC Article
Rags to Riches Will Run in Belmont; Velazquez to Ride Bloodhorse. com Article
Rags to Riches confirmed for Belmont ESPN Article
Photos from Todd Pletcher Website - Includes Rags to Riches Baby Photos
More News on Rags to Riches - Scroll Down to See Baby Pictures
Rags Photo Gallery
Entries for the 2007 Belmont Stakes
The field for the $1-million Belmont Stakes (G1), in post position order, with (sire), jockey, trainer, and morning-line odds:
1. Imawildandcrazyguy (Wild Event), Mark Guidry, Bill Kaplan, 20-to-1;
2. Tiago (Pleasant Tap), Mike Smith, John Shirreffs, 10-to-1;
3. Curlin (Smart Strike), Robby Albarado, Steve Asmussen, 6-to-5;
4. C P West (Came Home), Edgar Prado,Nick Zito,12-to-1;
5. Slew’s Tizzy (Tiznow), Rafael Bejarano, Greg Fox, 20-to-1;
6. Hard Spun (Danzig), Garrett Gomez, Larry Jones, 5-to-2; and
7. Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy), John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher, 3-to-1.
NTRA: Rags to Riches BIO
Racing Stats and Photo Gallery
Pedigree and Racing History
Rags to Riches Pedigree
Sire AP Indy 
GrandSire Seattle Slew 
Secretariat there also! 
Graded Earnings: $662,428 (as of 05.04.07) Race Record: 5-4-0-0
| Date | Race | Finish |
|---|---|---|
| 06.09.07 | Belmont (GI) | 1st |
| 05.04.07 | Kentucky Oaks (GI) | 1st |
| 03.10.07 | Santa Anita Oaks (GI) | 1st |
| 02.10.07 | Las Virgenes (GI) | 1st |
| 01.07.07 | Maiden @ Santa Anita | 1st |
| 06.10.06 | Maiden @ Churchill | 4th |
Rags To Riches 3 yo half brother CASINO DRIVE 
Casino Drive "monster from Japan" ABR 2/27/08
Videos of 2007 Rags to Riches Races before Belmont
Kentucky Oaks Video 5/5/07
Santa Anita Oaks Video 3/11/07
Las Virgenes Video 2/10/07
Santa Anita Maiden 1/07/07
Rags to Riches and Her Great Grandad
Rags to Riches Racing News
News beyond the Belmont Win
Rags to Riches might face boys again
Express Your Thoughts, comments and Feelings about Rags to Riches here!
This WIKI Page for Rags to Riches started by Mary L Ohio A HUGE Fan of this filly.
A Must READ!! Rags & what she means to me...
did you know that her "1/2" brother Jazil (share the same dam) won the Belmont last year? Wonder if it will be in the "genes" to do so again?!
This was in an e-mail from a friend of mine: Yes, yesterday was a lovely day of racing, wasn't it? I thought Curlin had the best shot, but I felt Rags to Riches had a real chance and was rooting for her. Had I been at Belmont, I would have bet her! She's a very talented filly, and I like her a lot. I got to spend a long time watching her at Pletcher's Keeneland barn, and took dozens of photos of her. I also saw her working in tandem with Circular Quay, towering over him (and beating him in the works, too). She looks very sweet and innocent in her stall, but she'll try to take a chunk out of anyone who walks too close to the door! I was thrilled to see her win. (swedishkat)
Ruffian to Rags: Tribute from a Fan
On July 7, 1975, Ruffian, one of the greatest fillies to grace the world of horse racing, became the only horse to be honored with a grave on the inside of the Belmont Racetrack. She was euthanized after breaking down the day before during the woefully misnamed "Great Match Race".
Foolish Pleasure finished the race in front of an ominously silent crowd of people who were intently focused on the other horse suffering in the back stretch. The colt technically won the race, but on that day, horse racing lost part of its soul.
Fans of Ruffian will never forget that when she broke down, she was in the lead. She was in the lead and she tried to keep running. She was still trying to run when she woke up from the surgery on her shattered leg. After thrashing about and causing further injuries, Ruffian was put out of her misery.
I didn’t see the ill-fated match race back in 1975. However, I recently and reluctantly watched the footage on YouTube. The image of Ruffian valiantly struggling to finish will haunt me for the rest of my life. Ruffian's body broke down, but her huge heart never gave up. My heart ached.
After the match race was over, the harsh reality set in that world would never again see Ruffian's bold and brilliant form blaze across the finish line. She was a once in a lifetime filly. When she died, she took all of her huge heart with her. In a way, a big part of the heart of the sport went with her too.
On June 9th, 2007, a little bit of that long lost heart started beating again during the 139th running of the Belmont Stakes. The feisty filly, Rags to Riches, battled it out with a top colt, Curlin, the winner of the 2007 Preakness, and galloped her way into the history books as the first filly to win the Belmont Stakes in over a century, 102 years to be exact.
She was also the first filly to win running the distance of 1 and 1/2 miles.
It is true that the 2:28.74 winning time for Rags to Riches broke no records. In fact, on July 9, 1973, (34 years ago to the day of her win) Secretariat, her great grandsire, put the final jewel in his Triple Crown winning by 31 lengths with a record speed of 2:24 that still stands today.
However, Rags to Riches was faster than Secretariat in one regard: She ran the final quarter of a mile in 23.83 seconds, the fastest time since 1934!
Another observation: Rags to Riches ran the race almost entirely on the far outside. Who knows what her time could have been had she taken a shorter distance around the track? But at this point, who's counting? It was the way she won that will forever "light the corners of my mind."
The 2007 Belmont Stakes was a race for the ages. The victory of Rags to Riches began with a heart-stopping stumble out of the gate where she almost went down on her knees, and unfolded into a bittersweet metaphor of another great champion filly, Ruffian, rising from her knees to finish her final race.
With the ¼ and ½ mile times being 24.740 and 50.140, respectively, the initial pace of the 2007 Belmont was, in the words of the caller, Tom Durkin, “tepid” and a “bit of a crawl”.
However, as the horses came out of the final turn, Curlin bolted between the leaders and grabbed the lead on the inside. At the same time, Rags to Riches charged from 5th place, sweeping 4-wide on the outside. Within a few seconds, she was out in front!
Suddenly, the 139th Belmont was as close to a modern day match race as you could get. It was Rags to Riches on the outside and Curlin on the inside. They left the rest of the field in the dust and went head-to-head as they thundered down the final stretch. It got to the point where the crowd pretty much forgot there were 5 other horses on the track.
Only this time, the race ended with a thrilling win for the filly...
I hope we have come full circle, from Ruffian to Rags. I hope to see Rags to Riches' bold and brilliant form blaze across the finish line again. She too is a once in a lifetime filly. In a way, she is helping to bring back some heart to the sport.
Thank you, Ruffian and Rags, for giving us your hearts and the memories: memories that belong not only in the horse racing record books, but also, somewhere in The Field of Dreams.
Comments: BEAUTIFUL, Ladywalker - it certainly came full circle: Rags continued the race for Ruffian! Even as a Curlin fan, I was thrilled to see it happen and the Ruffian movie the same day - it just proved it: FULL CIRCLE!!! .....(swedishkat)
