ELMONT, N.Y. - Belmont Stakes winner came out of her second-place finish in Saturday's Gazelle Stakes with a hairline fracture to her right front pastern and will not race again this year, her connections announced Sunday afternoon. She is expected, however, to run again as a 4-year-old.
Rags to Riches was scheduled to van to in Versailles, Ky., on Monday morning where she will receive six weeks of stall rest before having her injury re-X-rayed, at which time a determination will be made when she can resume training. Ashford Stud is the American arm of the international Thoroughbred empire Coolmore Stud, which is headed by , who owns Rags to Riches along with and Michael Tabor.
, the trainer of Rags to Riches, believes the injury occurred during the stretch run of the Gazelle when she switched to her right lead. Rags to Riches was overtaken in deep stretch by , who won the Gazelle by one-half length over Rags to Riches.
"The injury is not career ending, and she is expected to make a full recovery," Pletcher said in a press release. "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," Pletcher added. "She is resting comfortably and will ship to Ashford Stud tomorrow where she will receive six weeks of stall rest to give the fracture time to heal. 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."
The loss was the first for Rags to Riches this year and just her second in seven career starts. Before becoming the first filly in 102 years to win the Belmont Stakes, Rags to Riches won the Kentucky Oaks, Santa Anita Oaks, and Las Virgenes, all Grade 1 races for 3-year-old fillies.
After her historic Belmont victory Rags to Riches had a turbulent summer. Pointing to the Coaching Club American Oaks, she developed a fever that forced her to miss that race. On July 22, Rags to Riches was pulled up less than an eighth of a mile into a five-furlong work by exercise rider Lauren Robson, who felt something amiss.
Two days later, Rags to Riches was sent to the New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pa., where a complete physical was done. Veterinarians could not find anything wrong with Rags to Riches, who resumed training on July 30.
Though she missed enough time where Pletcher felt Rags to Riches couldn't make the Alabama on Aug. 18, Rags to Riches did work three consecutive Sundays from Aug. 5 to Aug. 19. She missed a planned work the following week after developing another temperature. That forced her to miss the Ruffian on Sept. 8.
While Rags to Riches is a virtual lock to be named 3-year-old champion filly, her injury figures to open up the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff to be run at Monmouth Park on Oct. 27. With Rags to Riches out of the picture, the connections of would probably be more inclined to put up the $180,000 supplemental fee to nominate their filly to the Distaff.
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