NEWS
Rags to Riches fractures right front pastern, sidelined until 2008
Posted: Sunday, September 16, 2007 1:48 PM
RAGS TO RICHES (outside) WINNING THE BELMONT STAKES (G1)
Photo by Z
by Mike Curry
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.”
Rags to Riches won a maiden special weight race on January 7 at Santa Anita Park and followed with a string of four straight Grade 1 victories for Pletcher and owners Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith. She won the Las Virgenes Stakes (G1) and Santa Anita Oaks (G1) at Santa Anita Park before posting a 4 1/4-length score in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 4 at Churchill Downs.
She subsequently outlasted Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Curlin in a thrilling stretch duel to win the Belmont Stakes.
After a series of minor setbacks, including a trip to the University of Pennsylvania’s new Bolton Center for a complete physical, that forced her to miss the Coaching Club America Oaks (G1) and Alabama Stakes (G1), Rags to Riches made her first start since the historic Belmont victory in the Gazelle.
“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.”
Rags to Riches has won five of seven career starts and earned $1,342,528. Bred in Kentucky by Skara Glen Stables, Rags to Riches is out of the Grade 2-winning Deputy Minister mare Better Than Honour, who also produced 2005 Belmont Stakes winner Jazil.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times daily news editor
