Rags to Riches, a chestnut American Thoroughbred filly, became Queen of the Sport of Kings on June 9, 2007 when she became only the third filly to win the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown and the longest, oldest race of the prestigious triad. It had been more than a century since Tanya's victory in 1905 and since Ruthless first made history in 1867.
A stumble out of the gate did not bode well for Rags to Riches™ first romp against the males, but in 2:28.74, she clinched the title and left Preakness Stakes winner Curlin to settle for second.
Foaled February 27, 2004, Rags to Riches hails from a distinguished line of Thoroughbred racehorses. Her sire, A.P. Indy was the 1992 Belmont winner, U.S. Horse of the Year and a U.S. Racing Hall of Fame Inductee. His sire was the great Seattle Slew, the 1977 Triple Crown winner, and she is a half sister of 2006 Belmont winner, Jazil.
At the age of two in 2006, Rags to Riches started her racing career with trainer Todd Pletcher. After a fourth-place finish in a
5 ½-furlong race at Churchill Downs, it was decided that she would run better at longer distances. She returned in January of 2007 to win a maiden race by six lengths at Santa Anita Park in California and followed that up with three Grade 1 stakes wins.
Rags to Riche's™ triumph on the second Saturday in June under the guidance of jockey John Velazquez marked Todd Pletcher's first win of a Triple Crown race and made proud owners of Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith. Only 21 fillies before her ran in Belmont the last being Silverbulletday, who finished seventh in 1999.
