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Rags to Riches may run Belmont Stakes |
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Written by Gohorsepower.com
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Tuesday, 22 May 2007 |
 Kentucky Oaks winning filly Rags to Riches may run the Belmont Stakes on June 9th. Rags is undefeated in four 2007 starts, with her only career loss taken in her 2006 maiden debut. The daughter of A.P. Indy is a half-daughter of last year's Belmont Stakes winner, Jazil, and is trained by Todd Pletcher, who took second in last year's Belmont with Bluegrass Cat.
On Monday, May 21, Rags to Riches completed her first work since winning the Kentucky Oaks on May 4, breezing four furlongs in 48.24 seconds. [Belmont workouts]
Rags to Riches has put a number of lengths between herself and her foes in each of her wins, finishing in sharp times, and winning her four 2007 starts by more than a combined 16 lengths. Her victory margins are usually about five lengths, with the smallest being 3/4 of a length in the Las Virgenes, where she was five wide into the lane, but rallied to beat Baroness Thatcher.
Rags to Riches might have to finish a little faster against the fastest colts, but is probably capable of doing it.
Todd Pletcher is now zero wins for 28 tries in Triple Crown races. The leading trainer, and winner of the Eclipse Award for Best Trainer three years in a row. This year, his five Kentucky Derby entries placed out of the money, as did his two Preakness entries. In 2006 Pletcher-trained Bluegrass Cat finished second in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.
2007 Belmont Stakes entries may also include this year's Kentucky Derby vets Hard Spun (Derby second), Nobiz Like Shobiz (Wood Memorial winner), Tiago (Santa Anita Derby winner), Great Hunter (Robert B. Lewis winner), and Imawildandcrazyguy (Derby 4th). Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense is likely to skip, and Curlin is uncertain.
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