Big Surprise

Champion filly, Rags To Riches will be retired after re-injuring her right front pastern. She will be bred to Ashford Stud's Giants Causeway. Rags To Riches became the first filly in 112 years to win the Belmont Stakes.

“She has re-injured her right front pastern and because of the timing, the decision was made to retire her as opposed to trying to bring her back in the fall,” trainer Todd Pletcher said.

From Thoroughbred Times Today

Rags to Riches suffers fracture, sidelined until 2008

Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Rags to Riches
suffered a hairline fracture to her right front
pastern and will miss the remainder of the
2007 season, trainer Todd Pletcher said on
Sunday.
Pletcher said he believes the A.P. Indy filly,
who on June 9 became the first filly in 102
years to win the Belmont Stakes, was injured
in the stretch of a runner-up finish in the
Gazelle Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park on Saturday.
Rags to Riches will resume her racing
career in 2008.
“The injury is not career ending, and she is expected to make a
full recovery,” Pletcher said. “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.
“She is resting comfortably and will ship to Ashford Stud [Monday],
where she will receive six weeks of stall rest to give the fracture
time to heal,” Pletcher said. “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.”—Mike Curry

Well, here's that coincidence I've been waiting for!

Racing Recap

Well, both Rags To Riches and The Green Monkey got beat yesterday. Rags To Riches ran a very good second, getting beat 1/2 length by Lear's Princess. Trainer, Todd Pletcher said after the race, “I would never be discouraged with this filly,” “I still think she is the best three-year-old filly in the country. “I think she is one of the best we’ve seen in a long time. Sometimes, the best get beat.”

The Green Monkey didn't fare as well. He finished a flat third place after chasing a strong pace. He had a small rally in the stretch, basically right before he got his doors blown off.

Rags To Riches

Rags To Riches will be making her first start since becoming the first filly to win the Belmont in 102 years, in the Gazelle Stakes at Belmont Park.

The $250,000 1 1/8 race will run at Belmont on Saturday.

The field, in post position order, with horse (sire), jockey, weight, and trainer:
1. Lear's Princess (Lear Fan), Eibar Coa, 115, Kiaran McLaughlin;
2. Dorm Fever (Stormin Fever), Garrett Gomez, 115, James Jerkens;
3. Tough Tiz's Sis (Tiznow), Rafael Bejarano, 119, Bob Baffert;
4. Le Chateau (Chester House), Shaun Bridgmohan, 115, D. Wayne Lukas; and
5. Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy), John Velazquez, 122, Todd Pletcher.

What's the Real Deal??

Rags To Riches, who has not started since becoming the first filly in 102 years to win the Belmont, has had another setback. This time a fever of 102. She had a temperature that kept her out of the Coaching Club American Oaks, then was pulled up at the start of a scheduled five-furlong workout on July 22. A thorough physical examination showed no problems. Todd Pletcher is adamant that there is nothing wrong, which appears to be confirmed by her gallops and workouts in between these weird events. I just wonder if there isn't more going on than they admit.

Horse Racing News of the Week

Rags To Riches, this year's Belmont winner has had a rough week. She was scratched from the Coaching Club due to spiking a fever, and was then pulled up in a workout on Saturday. She has been checked out by Dr. Steve Alldey and was given a clean bill of health but they are still shipping her to the clinic for a thorough checkup.

Daily Racing Form: News

The longtime groom for Lava Man was seriously injured in a car accident and has lost his left arm.

Daily Racing Form: News

Hallway, by Graeme Hall finished 2nd in the $100,000 Loisianna Breeders Derby going 1 1/8th on Saturday. Hallway is owned by Helligbrodt Racing and trained by Steve Asmussen

And The Winner Is.....

Rags To Riches!

Our Contest Winner Is:

Damon! The final results are:

Damon - 176

Nora - 158

HT - 122

Emma - 105

Kara - 104

Conard - 100

Ben - 84

Sophie - 71

Amy - 67

Chris - 60

Mel - 55

I would like to give Damon special recognition for not only winning, but having all three horses, and Conard for being the most improved. Chris lost a little of his edge by not playing in the Derby Contest. All in all, everyone who played made this a lot of fun. Until next time...

Updated Belmont Stakes news

Rags To Riches is trying to make history as the first filly to run in the Belmont this century. The last female starter was Silverbulletday in 1999 who finished seventh. The last female to win the Belmont was Tanya in 1905. Rags To Riches will be ridden by John Velazquez. Her regular rider, Garrettt Gomez is already commited to ride Hard Spun and can't get out of the obligation. Interestingly enough, Rags To Riches is sired by AP Indy, the 1992 Belmont winner, and is a half sister to Jazil, last years Belmont winner. I would say that gives her the right pedigree to win the Belmont Stakes herself! C P West is a late addition to the lineup with Edgar Prado as his rider. The latest list of Belmont possible starters is:

CP West

Curlin

Hard Spun

Digger

Imawildandcrazyguy

Rags To Riches

Slew's Tizzy

Tiago