Todd Plecher has won over 5,850 races in his extraordinary training career. It stands out more than others.
It was the 2007 Belmont Stakes, and became the third filly to win the famous “Champion Test” for its big rags to wealth and the first filly since Tanya in 1905.
“I still think it’s our sweetest victory,” Pletcher said in a 2016 interview at Belmont Park. “It was our first classic and whenever you win a classic it matters in itself. The fact that it was with the filly and it wasn’t happening in 100 years made it more.”
Pletchers don’t shoot from the waist. Every move he makes is thoroughly thought out and rethinked. He debated long and hard about whether to rag into Belmont wealth, and ultimately decided to do so only after the street sense of the Kentucky Derby winner was withdrawn from consideration.
Earning a half miles in Belmont has something to do with breeding. It was convincing to give her the opportunity to go that unusual distance due to her rags to wealth. Her bull, AP Indy, won Belmont in 1992. Her dam is better than honor, producing Belmont winner Jazil in 2006.
“It seemed she was on earth for this type of race,” Pletcher said.
The rags to wealth were not sensitive women, but claiming themselves in the barn and racetrack. “There were no questions I felt she was a filly that I could consider taking with the Colts,” her trainer pointed out. “She was big enough and strong enough.”
Chestnut Mares have excellent form and have wiped out four consecutive races since her minor debut. She was stripping the highlighted 4¼-length victory at the Kentucky Oaks, the 3-year-old Phillies companion race in Kentucky Oaks. Pletcher decided to swing for the fence after extensive discussions with co-owners Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith.
The strategy seemed misguided when the rags to wealth stumbled through the departure gates. However, her jockey John Velazquez remained calm and they gradually moved towards the front of the pack. When she headed home, the battle began.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xhrok7jti
Here is the way it unfolded in the memorable terms of track announcer Tom Durkin. “And at the top of the stretch, Philly is in front of Belmont. But Carlin is with her. These two are inside Carlin in the Belmont bet battle. Close!
Pletcher, often appears to be emotionless, constantly pumping his fist during the heart pound finish. “Now, baby!” he cried.
Rags to Riches ran again that season, finishing second in the Gazelle Stakes to Princess Lear, but she won the Eclipse Award as the champion 3-year-old filly in North America. She never again competed after the gazelle due to Pastern’s injuries in the lower right.
Although she was as small as her seven-man racing job, Pletcher believes she deserves to be led to the National Racing Museum Hall of Fame (her trainer entered the hall in 2021). Without a doubt, her performance at Belmont was one of her ages.
Note: This story was originally released in June 2016.
Fun fact
- Rags to wealth seemed part of a good filly calling her a “runway model” that broke an employee at a training center in Ocala, Florida.
- John Velazquez needed to be released from the twitching mission of thru. That way he could ride the rags of Belmont wealth.
- The filly did not begin at Belmont from when Silver Bret Day came in 7th place in 1999 until the rags to Riches won in 2007. The laggs was 22nd Overall a filly to start.
- Only two fillies who have been competing in the Belmont stakes since 2007 are both trained by Pletcher. The unlimited budget came in sixth place in 2013, and Nest (Carlin’s daughter) finished second in 2022 with stable Mo Donegal.
- Rags to Riches was originally Ky. was based in Ashford Stud, Versailles. She returned to the US after being exported to Ireland in 2009.
- Luxury, the first colt to wealth by rugs, never competed.
- Galileo’s son Rhett Butler was the Hungarian champion.
