Tuesday morning, leading trainer Todd Pletcher announced that his superstar three-year-old filly, Rags to Riches, will compete against males in the 139th running of the Belmont Stakes, on Saturday, June 9. At a distance of 1 1/2 miles, the $1 million Belmont is the oldest and final race of the Thoroughbred Triple Crown.
Rags to Riches, who will be running for the first time against males, is trying to buck some history. Just two females have won the race – Tanya, in 1905, and Ruthless, in 1867 – and only 21 fillies have competed in the 102-year history of the race.
The most recent fillies to run in the Belmont Stakes were My Flag, who finished third in 1996, and Silverbulletday, who finished seventh in 1999.
“She’s sort of accomplished everything a three-year-old filly could accomplish,” said Pletcher of the A.P. Indy daughter, who has won three consecutive Grade 1 stakes over fillies this year, including the prestigious Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs. “From a historical perspective, it would place her at the highest level.”
Rags to Riches’ pedigree is steeped in Belmont Stakes success. Her sire won the race in 1992, and her dam, Better Than Honour, by Deputy Minister, foaled last year’s Belmont Stakes champion, Jazil.
“Arguably, she’s got the best pedigree for this race,” said Pletcher, who finished second and third in last year’s Belmont Stakes with Bluegrass Cat and Sunriver, but has yet to win a Triple Crown race. “She’s by a Belmont winner out of a Belmont producer and this isn’t a 20-horse field like the Derby.”
Jockey John Velazquez, who had originally committed to ride Belmont contender Slew’s Tizzy, will pilot Rags to Riches, instead. Had Rags to Riches skipped the Belmont Stakes, she would have started as a heavy favorite in the $250,000 Mother Goose versus fillies at Belmont Park, on June 30th.
Kentucky Derby champion Street Sense, who lost by a nod to Curlin in the Preakness Stakes, will not compete in the Belmont. But Rags to Riches will take on Preakness champion Curlin, as well as Kentucky Derby runner-up Hard Spun.
“She’s a very intriguing horse,” said Curlin’s trainer, Steve Asmussen, of Rags to Riches. “There are no comparisons to make because she has never run against males. She’s not going to be a pace factor, so her running is not really going to change how the race is run. She’s just another quality horse in the race and Curlin is going to have to run extremely well to win.”