Rags to Riches - 2007 Belmont Stakes

It was a battle of the sexes, as the filly Rags to Riches gamely took on eventual Horse of the Year Curlin in the stretch and fought to the wire, emerging with a head victory and becoming the first of her sex to win the Belmont in 102 years. Both Rags to Riches and her half-brother Jazil had the same mother -- Better Than Honour.
Final time: 2:28.74
Owner: Michael Tabor
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: John Velazquez

[@depthchargebetty3813]

This is still one of the best horse races in history. She was magnificent.

[@kwpeters004]

I was at this race. Lost almost all my $ on the previous races, so I placed one last big bet on Rags to Riches. It was awesome!

[@tunzaleabdurrehmanova1440]

Bir

[@scottiescottie18]

How big of bet did you place on rags to riches? And how much did you win?

[@johnsnare]

I still get goose bumps every time i replay that race. What a filly.

[@TJ-kk5zf]

me too

[@qhsperson]

I just read the Haskens piece he wrote after this race. In the stretch, Curlin's rider was whipping him on his left side, which made Curlin bump Rags repeatedly--and it only made her madder. She wasn't a sweetie like Zenyatta; she'd tear your head off if you crossed her.

[@marilynshively670]

That made me laugh

[@debbieschwartz557]

She was a granddaughter of Seattle Slew and he was the same way.

[@Postinaway]

It kinda looks like her jockey reaches out and hits Curlin at one point in the stretch.

[@nannie2846]

I have watched this race so many times I have lost count. Best race I ever saw!! "A filly in the Belmont!" Loved the call from Tom Durkin!

[@merkinmuffley7118]

Wow! Filly stumbled out of gate and out-dueled Curlin. Incredible!

[@rainiway2831]

American Pharoah stumbled out of the gate and took the Triple Crown. Makes me wonder if a stumble at the Belmont is a sign of good luck. It's the exact opposite in the Preakness.

[@cgarnet01]

War Emblem stumbled out of the gate of the Belmont with the Triple Crown on the line and we all know how that ended. I'd still prefer my horse to have a clean break at Big Sandy.

[@cratorcic9362]

Citation also stumbled at the gate at the Belmont and won the Triple Crown

[@Postinaway]

​@rainiway2831 It takes the horse a furlong or two to adjust, and to find their stride... then they have to carefully accelerate -- maybe it saves them from blowing it all out too quickly.

[@lindseykistler2754]

She definitely had the bloodlines for this! Granddaughter of the undefeated Seattle Slew and the great granddaughter or the immortal Secretariat all on her sire side!

[@AtarahDerek]

+Lindsey Kistler What's more, she only had one stallion between herself and Secretariat, which means she had a chance to inherit his large heart. AP Indy was no TC winner, but he's not obscure, either.

[@qhsperson]

+AtarahDerek If he hadn't been hurt, who knows? He recovered in time for the Belmont and took it.

[@GoHawksGoBlue]

Don’t forget, her dam is also the dam of Jazil, who won the Belmont the year before Rags.

[@frankkononchuk6083]

One of the best Belmont's ever. Durkin at his best also.

[@calmand29]

Never gets old. I could watch her and Rachel Alexandra beat the boys all day long. 🙌❤

[@marshastapleton1148]

Also love to watch Winning Colors and Genuine Risk

[@wolfsrule100]

the stretch call gets me everytime.

[@GoHawksGoBlue]

I cannot wait to see how Rags’ 2019 Curlin colt turns out. I can’t believe it took them that long to FINALLY breed her to classic distance dirt horses. She is currently in foal to American Pharoah.

[@kdogozzy]

I have been hunting the media for YEARS- looking to see if she and curlin would produce together. And now American pharaoh?! Who are these babies, what are their names I want them

[@RedCard94]

Tom Durkin was brilliant with his call

[@abbythecat01]

The only thing I could think while Curlin and Rags to Riches were flying for the wire was, “My god- Rags to Riches adamantly refused to let Curlin get a head in front. Look at her go!”

[@kdogozzy]

I still watch this race like 15 years later. Still makes me giddy

[@nannie2846]

I watched this race at a place for off track betting and as usual placed a bet on the filly. (I will usually place a bet on any filly in the Classic races) I had a bet on Curlin too. As they came down the home stretch I was jumping up and down and yelling "Go Rags! Go Rags!" When she won I said "Yes!!! It takes the girls to show the boys how to do it!!" lol. Great race and one of the best Belmont's I have seen.

[@Stonymypony]

Curlin is a bigger horse with more experience. Rags to Riches may have just come off a 5 week break but that does not mean as much as you think. Rags to Riches came wider around the turn and stayed with him to the wire matching every stride. If Curlin were really that tired he would not have been run and if anything he was probably in the shape of his life. I would argue that there was not a time when he was more prepared.

[@boswindle9050]

He was tired

[@monomoygirl9562]

that’s not an excuse, “he was tired”. maybe the distance wasn’t the right fit for him but you do have to realize that horses are able to race in all 3 races and win each one, without getting tired. was Curlin the better horse overall, yes, so he doesn’t even need an excuse because he ran a good race, and would go on to win several others. Rags to Riches earned her Belmont win with a great race and spirit.

[@hptrackstar]

she's a beast!

[@greghodges2884]

+Anne Ferraro she actually IS a beast

[@marilynshively670]

I just read Jay Hovdey's article about this filly and decided to watch the race again. Wow what a filly, what a race. amazing.

[@smokeemifyougotem5309]

crying this many yesrs later remember watching it when i was 11 years old with my old man ❤

[@stuntkittyfilms]

Brilliant. So exciting! A Great Filly. 102 years after Tanya 105. Hear it for the Girls! Ya!

[@qdogg290]

I don't know what's better -- the race or the call?

[@princessforeverxxx]

Exciting news- Rags To Riches and Curlin mated in 2018 and she is pregnant! Due early 2019.

[@OfficialMuffiin]

Amazing news! I wish her breeding with American Pharoah had been successful :( wishing her a safe and healthy pregnancy.

[@109367]

Are you sure? Their dams are half sisters, that's a pretty close inbreeding.

[@bconigliaro]

Rags was later mated to Curlin. And she has never ceased to remind him, or their son, who came out on top in that beautiful Belmont.

[@lovelee6825]

2020 and stiLL Googling one of the most exciting races I ever seen!! Ha!! I still tense up during the race and have tears in my eyes at the!!! 💜 The jockeys we're very patient and not overworking the horses!! Love it!!!

[@user-bk3xm7kr3g]

She ran a great great race after stumbling!! And the race call was amazing as well!!🏇🏇🏇

[@Loarnold]

Goosebumps 15 years later

[@2138red]

ill never forget this race. it was amazing to watch

[@cindyrissal3628]

I LOVE IT WHEN THE FILLY WINS!!!

[@bg147]

He had a golden trip while she was taken wide into the first turn and was wide throughout.

[@PittyPatFeet]

Beautiful!

[@Kimberlytheresam]

I love this!!!

[@janineo.760]

Greatest race call ever

[@dpv99]

I remember my eye catching the red horse bobble out of the gate and then jumping up and down yelling for her to win. I only watch 3 races a year, but there is nothing more exciting in sports than when it goes down to the wire.

[@michaelkitz2090]

These 2, in a battle of the sexes in the Belmont Stakes!

[@grantp4022]

She was the grandaughter of the great and gritty Seattle Slew, who sired many winners.

[@inquiry7]

To this day Asmussen cannot believe that for the length of the Belmont stretch Curlin could not get by a filly!!! She was AMAZING for 5 weeks..DUSTING the good hoss Octave in the KY Oaks in a common gallop,(as ridiculously easy as Babaro's Derby win. Never set down!!) then in the 5 weeks outworkin Pletcher's derby crew. Winning The Belmont!!And never that flash of greatness again.

[@nannie2846]

Every time I hear someone talk about a colt who was sired by Curlin I just remind them that he was beaten by a filly in the Belmont, lol! Girl power!! I think I have watched this race about 50 times. It never gets old.

[@nannie2846]

Raced outside the whole way and still beat Curlin, running farther than he did.

[@campcasey62]

A Filly wins the Belmont!!!!!!

[@Secretstuff1]

He tried it. She said no.

[@afleetalex8285]

What a call by Durkin.

[@gregoryfelder1]

It's because Tom's call during the race was like something is brewing after Smarty Jones quick fractions during the race where they ran the fastest half of the race in Belmont history. So as Birstone started to rolled he was getting a little nervous then you hear "Birdstone wins The Belmont Stakes"

[@virghammer1]

Can barely breathe watching this. THE CRUEL, so punishing length of the Belmont ... Do we all realize how terribly dangerous to an animal these pounding, heart-busting races are, to these delicate legs? - So darned awful to me ... tho' they do LOVE to run, that's the "unholy amazement of it" - to quote "Phila. Story" - K. Hepburn/Grace Kelly -- But "Rags to Riches" ... Ahhh -- 1 of the Greatest of ALL time. What guts. VCH & Midlantic Theatre Co. Renaissance Newark

[@Dikranovski]

TYPICAL SECRETARIAT GRANDDAUGHTER!!!!!!!!!!!

[@bque3717]

The dam side has all the stamina and the multiple belmont and long distance winners.

[@gabetedino2879]

Durkin

[@gregoryfelder1]

Tom's best call is "Birdstone Wins The Belmont Stakes"

[@jesusthroughmary]

"And Smarty Jones enters the stretch to the roar of 120,000! But Birdstone is gonna make him earn it today! The whip is out on Smarty Jones! It's been 26 years, it's just one furlong away!" I have heard that call 1,000 times and it never get old. The other one that might be his best is the 1998 Belmont, Victory Gallop and Real Quiet in a photo finish.

[@phxmaster9684]

+jesusthroughmary American pharaoh 2015...

[@jesusthroughmary]

PHX Master Durkin didn't call that race, he had retired the year before.

[@jesusthroughmary]

PHX Master Also, *Pharoah

[@phxmaster9684]

+jesusthroughmary I thought we were just talking about good race calls and I thought that was a good one but one of toms worst (in my opinion) the 2009 Kentucky Derby

[@IIReXxy]

quite common, yes

[@wildh.orsefeathe.rs1872]

Eat that Boys, We Girls Rule!!

[@Veaseify]

Its a great finish but why only 7 runners, did Curlin scare everybody off?

[@4ever1980s]

Johnny V the best money rider in the game!!!

[@kaeseemcdoogle]

I don't suppose that AP Indy's sire had anything to do with the pedigree? After all, historically, Slew was the much better sire.

[@thecatsmustache]

Hard Spun was all over the place at the start.

[@aliyahthoman7408]

Ruffian will always be better but, rags was born to race as well.

[@boswindle9050]

Ruffian didn't even race against male horses.

[@monomoygirl9562]

@Bo Swindle Ruffian ran a faster 1 1/2 at Belmont then Rags to Riches. Not to mention her time was faster then Gallent Fox, War Admiral, Whirlaway, Count Fleet, Assualt, Citation, Omaha, ETC. Ruffian didn’t need to race against males to be accomplished.

[@monomoygirl9562]

@TMS 2021 Camilla J She also raced in New Jersey, which if you didn’t know is a separate state from New York idiot. Rags to Riches lost to other females, Ruffian NEVER did.

[@russellalesi5715]

Uh...she died racing Foolish Pleasure.... ​@boswindle9050

[@anthonybartolo4588]

Hard Spun had one of if not the worst ride that I have ever witnessed. I am pretty sure that was Garrett Gomez, he should be ashamed of himself.

[@Geronimo2123]

I agree...I am not sure Hard Spun would have won, but his only chance was setting the pace galloping around the track (not rating beside Curlin). His dam had won at 12f on the front end. That move on the first turn where Gomez swung him 5 wide was a disgrace. The horse is still asking for his head. Remember, Gomez wanted off HS once Rags was announced as being certain for this race, and Larry Jones said no. And Gomez made matter worse after the race by slapping five with Johnny V on Rags before the horses had even finishing galloping out. Strange and awful ride...

[@qhsperson]

It was scary to watch.

[@keithlamontbraggs]

Rags To Riches defeated Curlin because Curlin was in all 3 legs of the triple crown and was worn out while Rags to Riches was coming off of a 5 week freshining.

[@mus3415]

meanwhile, at the time you wrote this comment, 11 other horses have managed to win all-3 legs. if he were that tired, he would not have been run.

[@williamdunphy352]

1/4-24 3/5 1/2-50 3/4-1:15 1/5

[@fabianprendergast1091]

Tom durkins is the best.

[@barrelracer7155]

If a guy ever tells you a girl can`t win, tell`m to watch this.

[@lindseykistler2754]

*of

[@Lanegirl902]

Yeah! That's the Secretariat large heart she got from AP INDY - who got it thru his Dam Weekend Surprise. You want a Secretariat - filly - to colt - to filly to get his heart. It's on the X chromosome. That's why Big Red was a top brood mare sire.

[@PlaYah1979]

Ok make an all girl football team..Then have them play a NFL team..Or any sport for that matter...

[@Caroni100]

Rags to Riches (February 27, 2004 - ) * Sire: A. P. Indy * Grandsire: Seattle Slew * Dam: Better than Honour * Damsire: Deputy Minister * Sex: Filly * Breeder: Skara Glenn Stables * Owner: Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith * Trainer: Todd Pletcher * 7 Starts * 5 Wins * 1 Second * 0 Third * $ 1,340,028 earned * 2007 NTRA "Moment of the Year" * 2007 World Champion 3-Year-Old Filly * 2007 American Champion 3-Year-Old-Filly * Greetings from Venezuela. Rags to Riches (27 de Febrero, 2004 - ) * Padre: A. P. Indy * Abuelo paterno: Seattle Slew * Madre: Better than Honour * Abuelo materno: Deputy Minister * Sexo: Yegua * Criador: Skara Glenn Stables * Propietario: Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith * Entrenador: Todd Pletcher * 7 Salidas * 5 Primeros * 1 Segundo * 0 Tercero * $ 1,340,028 producidos * "Momento del Año" NTRA 2007 * Potranca de 3 Años Campeona Mundial 2007 * Potranca de 3 años Campeona de Estados Unidos 2007 * Saludos desde Venezuela.