Rags to Riches Won't Be Against Boys

Although no firm plans have been made for the Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches beyond her next scheduled start, it appears she may not face colts in the Travers Stakes or at any other time this year. Her next appearance will be against fillies in the Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont Park on July 21.

Michael Tabor, the co-owner of Rags to Riches, said "I know everybody would love to see her do it again, but, for me, she's already proven herself against the boys."

Rags to Riches is undefeated this year in five starts, and she became the first filly to win the Belmont Stakes in 102 years.

Technorati tag(s): horse betting, rags to riches

2007 Triple Crown Results

The 2007 Triple Crown races were among the most competitive in recent memory, as the results prove. Here’s a look back at the 2007 Triple Crown results:

Kentucky Derby: Street Sense left 19 other horses in his dust. He rallied down the stretch to payout $11.80 to win, $6.40 to place and $4.60 to show, and finished 2.5 lengths ahead of runnerup Hard Spun. Previously unbeaten Curlin, the 5/1 second choice, finished another 5.75 lengths back. Hard Spun paid $9.80 to place and $7 to show. Curlin paid $5.60 to show.

Preakness Stakes: Curlin overtook Derby winner Street Sense on the last stride and paid $8.80 to win, $3.80 to place and $2.80 to show. The finish was one of the most thrilling in the 132 years of the Preakness. Street Sense returned $3.00 to place and $2.40 to show. Hard Spun paid $3.00 to show.

Belmont Stakes: Rags to Riches made history by becoming the first filly in 102 years to win the 1.5-mile Belmont. She nipped Curlin in a fantastic finish, paying $10.60 to win, $4.40 to place and $3.20 to show. Favorite Curlin paid $3.00 to place and $2.30 to show. Tiago paid $3.70 to show.

Belmont Winner, Rags to Riches

Under overcast skies at Belmont Park on Saturday, June 9, 2007, Rags to Riches crossed the wire a head in front of favored Preakness winner Curlin in the 139th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes and became the first filly in 102 years to win the longest and oldest leg of the Triple Crown. Her win ends long droughts in Triple Crown races for both her trainer and jockey - Todd Pletcher was 0-for-28 and John Velazquez was 0-for-20. Her winning time of 2:28.74 was well off Secretariat's track record of 2:24, but time doesn't matter this year. The race will be remembered for the fact that she's only the third filly in history to win the 1 1/2-mile "Test of the Champion."

Technorati tag(s): horse betting

Asmussen Confident with Curlin on Belmont Eve

Trainer Steve Asmussen is confident that Curlin will finish strong in the final leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes.

"He is a competitor," said Asmussen in his first meeting with the media at Belmont Park the morning of June 8. "I think our strategy (in the Belmont) is very similar to what we always do. You know your horse and you control what you can control. I hope he is away from the gate cleanly and I hope he goes well over the racetrack. From point A to point B he is a very tough horse to beat. I think the adjustments that need to be made will be made by other horses trying to beat him."

Curlin will break from post three under jockey Robby Albarado in the Belmont. The pair is listed as the 6-5 morning line favorite.

Technorati tag(s): belmont odds, belmont park

Belmont Stakes Contenders - Post Positions and Odds

Here's the final list of seven horses who will show up for the 139th running of the Belmont Stakes as well as their post positions and odds from Belmont Park.

1. Imawildandcrazyguy 20/1
2. Tiago 10/1
3. Curlin 6/5
4. C P West 12/1
5. Slew’s Tizzy 20/1
6. Hard Spun 5/2
7. Rags to Riches 3/1

Technorati tag(s): belmont betting, curlin

Belmont Stakes Betting: Hard Spun's Turn?

Twelve furlongs is a tough journey for a thoroughbred.

Only seven horses will make that journey this Saturday for the 139th running of the Belmont Stakes, a race that always finds it hard to draw the top horses when a Triple Crown is not on the line. The 1 1/2-mile trek around beautiful "Big Sandy" is the longest in North America, at least on dirt. Few horses have the stamina to be considered favorites at the Belmont.

Hard Spun is one of the masses. After finishing in the Top 3 at both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, he’s pegged at 5-2 to win Saturday’s race, second to Curlin at 6-5. The third time could very well be a charm for this dark bay. But to win the Belmont, Hard Spun has to do two things he has never done: win a race against the top 3-year-olds, and win a race over 1 1/8-mile.

The first problem has mainly to do with Curlin. He was not in the field at either the Grade III Lecomte Stakes in January or the Grade II Lane’s End Stakes in March, Hard Spun’s two victories on the Triple Crown trail. His toughest opponents there were the likes of Teuflesberg and Sedgefield. Curlin is the favorite on Saturday for a reason: four wins, including the Preakness, and a third-place finish at the Kentucky Derby.

Hard Spun also faces the challenge of beating filly sensation Rags to Riches, the third favorite at 3-1. Which brings us to the second problem. Rags to Riches has that great Belmont-tested pedigree that bettors are drooling over: A.P. Indy via Seattle Slew. It’s a genetic formula brimming with stamina; it worked last year for Jazil, and it could work for his sister this year. Hard Spun’s pedigree, meanwhile, is further evidence that he is better off running shorter races on turf.

Both these obstacles can be overcome – but would you bet on it?

Technorati tag(s): belmont stakes betting, hard spun, belmont contenders

Filly Rags to Riches Ready for Belmont Stakes

The fabulous filly will run Saturday in the Belmont Stakes, where she will attempt to become the first of her sex in 102 years to win the final jewel of the Triple Crown.

"We're going in because we think we have a chance to win," Pletcher said Tuesday morning outside his barn at Belmont Park. "The filly is doing very well."

"It should make it interesting," Pletcher said. "I'll be as excited as anyone else."

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.

Rags to Riches would 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.

"Arguably, she has the best pedigree for this race any horse could ever have," Pletcher said.

Technorati tag(s): rags to richesbelmont contenders