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Filly Rags to Riches Will Challenge the Boys at Belmont Stakes
Todd Pletcher’s Rags to Riches, will take on the boys in the 1 1/2 -mile Belmont Stakes on Saturday in the final leg of the Triple Crown race. The filly will attempt to become the first filly to win the race in 102 years.
“This is something to get excited about,” Pletcher said Tuesday outside his barn at Belmont Park. “From a historical perspective, it would place her at the highest level.”
Without Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense running, Belmont oddsmakers were shaping up for a matchup between Preakness winner Curlin and Derby runner-up Hard Spun.
Rags to Riches will be the first filly in eight years and 22nd ever to run in the Belmont. Silverbulletday finished seventh in 1999, and two fillies have won — Tanya in 1905 and Ruthless in 1867. Three fillies have won the Kentucky Derby — Regret in 1915, Genuine Risk in 1980 and Winning Colors in 1988.
With Rags to Riches in, the Belmont underwent several changes Tuesday, from who’s running to who’s riding which horse.
Time Squared is out, and Digger likely will be, too, when entries are taken Wednesday. C P West, who finished fourth in the Preakness for trainer Nick Zito, is another new addition, leaving a probable seven-horse field.
Jockey John Velazquez, who was set to ride Slew’s Tizzy, moves to Rags to Riches. Garrett Gomez has ridden the filly to four wins in a row, including the Kentucky Oaks, but will stay aboard Hard Spun — replacing Mario Pino. Rafael Bejarano gets the call on Slew’s Tizzy.
Pletcher based his decision to run Rags To Riches in Elmont, New York on several factors –she was bred to run 1 1/2 miles and has been training well, and the defection of Street Sense opened up the field.
The 3-year-old filly is a daughter of 1992 Belmont winner A.P. Indy and a half-sister to Jazil, last year’s Belmont winner.
“Arguably, she has the best pedigree for this race any horse could ever have,” Pletcher said.
Todd Pletcher’s Rags to Riches, will take on the boys in the 1 1/2 -mile 
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