6/10/07 - SEATTLE SLEW'S GRANDDAUGHTER RAGS TO RICHES WINS 2007 BELMONT STAKES, MAKES HISTORY

We all should have known this was going to happen.  The handwriting was on the wall.

30 years ago, on June 11, 1977, the immortal Seattle Slew won the Belmont Stakes (G1) and became the only undefeated Triple Crown champion in thoroughbred racing history.

15 years ago on June 6, 1992, Seattle Slew's son A.P. Indy won the Belmont Stakes on his way to becoming Horse of the Year.

Now in 2007, 15 more years had passed and it was time for this branch of Seattle Slew's family tree to provide more Belmont Stakes magic.

A.P. Indy's 3-year-old daughter Rags to Riches filled the bill in a historic way with her thrilling Belmont Stakes victory on June 9, 2007.

Rags to Riches became the first filly in 102 years to win the Belmont Stakes, and only the third filly to ever win the classic race.  Tanya had won in 1905 and Ruthless in 1867.

Rags to Riches' stunning stretch battle through the Belmont Park stretch brought back memories of her legendary grandfather's stretch run, albeit not in the 1977 Belmont Stakes, where Seattle Slew toyed with the field and came home in a coronation.  Rather, the memories of Seattle Slew's monumental effort down the long Belmont stretch in another 12-furlong race, the 1978 Jockey Club Gold Cup, come flooding into conscience. 

It was Exceller on the inside and Seattle Slew on the outside. 

Slew had overcome a myriad of obstacles throughout the running of the race, each in and of itself enough to stop any reasonable thoroughbred, and there he was at the end, battling back with every stride.  A few jumps past the wire, he was in front.  It is widely considered the most courageous effort ever put forth by a thoroughbred.

Rags to Riches had one bit of trouble herself the start in which she broke awkwardly and nearly went to her knees.  She recovered nicely from that under jockey John Velazquez, took a wide path throughout, and came on with a determined run through the stretch. 

"My heart stopped," said jockey Velazquez, speaking about the stumble coming out of the gate.  "The first thing you think is 'I hope she doesnt get hurt' and the second thing is 'I hope she doesnt pull a shoe.'  It was a good thing the race was a mile and a half.  She got herself together.  She was wide and running comfortably."

The pace of the race was very slow, but six of the seven starters were within 3 lengths of the lead after a mile had been run in 1:40.23.  The glory was there for the taking for the horse that had the most speed and stamina left.

It was Curlin on the inside and Rags to Riches on the outside.

Rags to Riches got the lead at the quarter pole and fought off several of Curlin's challenges to prevail by a head in a final time of 2:28.74.  They ran the last quarter in :23.83.  Only a special filly can defeat the type of quality colts that are found in a classic race.

"When I saw Curlin go to the inside I knew it was my turn to move," said Velazquez, who captured his first winning mount in a Triple Crown event.

The win also gave trainer Todd Pletcher his first win in a Triple Crown race in his 29th try.

"It's a special feeling no matter when you do it," said Pletcher, who only decided on Tuesday to put Rags to Riches in the Belmont.  "To do it with a filly, which hasn't been done in 102 years, it's a real credit to how good the filly is."

Rags to Riches unquestionably had the best pedigree for the 1 1/2-mile Belmont.  She is by A.P. Indy, and her dam, the Deputy Minister mare Better Than Honour, produced last year's Belmont winner, Jazil.

Rags to Riches was bred in Kentucky by Stanley Gumberg's Skara Glen Stable and purchased at the 2005 Keeneland September sale for $1.9 million.  She races for Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith.

Rags to Riches lost her first start, her only outing as a 2-year-old.  She returned with a vengeance, breaking her maiden in early January at Santa Anita, the first time Pletcher had sent a string to California.  She won the Las Virgenes Stakes (G1) impressively after an extremely wide trip in February and then won the Santa Anita Oaks (G1) in April.

Pletcher opted to run her in the Kentucky Oaks while some suggested she could compete in the Derby.  She won the race by an easy 4 1/4 lengths.

After that, Pletcher was asked if he would consider running her against colts, but he deferred a decision about the Belmont.  He did not decide to run until the week of the race.

"If you have a trainer, Ive always believed you should let the trainer make the decision on where to run," Tabor said.  "I consulted with Todd and Derrick but the decision was Todds."

"He was happy with how he felt about her."

Asked if Rags to Riches might take on males again, Tabor said, "It is more than possible."

After Rags to Riches won for the fifth time in six starts and increased her earnings to $1,292,528, Pletcher agreed.

"We might go the Coaching Club American Oaks and the Alabama or the Haskell and Travers (all G1)," Pletcher said.

The Slew Crew congratulates all the connections of Rags to Riches on their historic achievement.