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THREE-YEAR-OLD DIARY JUNE 13, 2007 by James Scully The filly did it. RAGS TO RICHES (A.P. Indy) overcame a stumbling start to record a hard-fought decision in the Belmont S. (G1), displaying tons of class and heart in out-dueling CURLIN (Smart Strike) to the finish line by a head. Her tremendous performance wrapped up one of most exciting Triple Crown seasons in modern times. STREET SENSE (Street Cry [Ire]) kicked it off with an amazing rally up the rail that propelled him to victory in the Kentucky Derby (G1), becoming the first Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner, and the first juvenile champion since 1979, to capture the Run for the Roses. Curlin picked up the mantle in the Preakness S. (G1), re-rallying courageously to nip Street Sense in a thrilling finish. The drama reached new heights in the Belmont. Curlin shot through a gap at the top of the stretch with his powerful strides and ran his eyeballs out to the wire. He crushed his male rivals in the Belmont, but he wasn't good enough to handle the filly. Rags to Riches raced wide the entire way, rating in fifth or sixth through the opening mile, and launched her rally midway around the final turn, effortlessly inhaling the leaders with a strong turn of foot into the stretch. As she struck the front nearing the quarter-pole, the duel began, and Rags to Riches refused to allow Curlin past in a head-to-head battle through the lane. The runner-up surged repeatedly, but Rags to Riches always had an answer for him. By 1992 Horse of the Year A.P. Indy, Rags to Riches' dam, the Grade 2-winning Better Than Honour (Deputy Minister), has now thrown back-to-back Belmont winners. Out of 1982 Kentucky Oaks (G1) queen Blush with Pride (Blushing Groom [Fr]), the 11-year-old mare has an unraced two-year-old son named Casino Drive (Mineshaft) and a yearling colt by Giant's Causeway. Her offspring are worth a fortune. Todd Pletcher earned his first Triple Crown race win after going zero-for-28, and John Velazquez piloted his first classic winner. A filly with lots of charisma ended their futility. Rags to Riches is five-for-five this year, winning four Grade 1 events after breaking her maiden on January 7, and the sky remains the limit as she targets the Travers S. (G1) and possibly the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). Azeri, Silverbulletday, Inside Information, Lady's Secret and Winning Colors are some names that come to mind when reflecting upon exciting female stars in the last 20 years, but Rags to Riches has arguably surpassed them all with her Belmont score. It was one for the ages, something we'll probably never see again. Distance will never be a question as the chestnut lass has proven effective from a mile to 12 furlongs. Rags to Riches captured the Kentucky Oaks (G1) over an off track, and she's earned terrific BRIS Speed and Pace numbers. She's got it going on. Curlin deserves plenty of credit. His connections had the courage to show up in the Belmont, and the massive chestnut remains a top contender for champion three-year-old male honors. The Derby was only his fourth start. Last year, a similarly inexperienced colt, Bernardini, captured the Preakness and was much more dominant later in the year, taking the Jim Dandy S. (G2), Travers and Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) in impressive fashion. Curlin's capable of the same improvement when he returns to action in a couple of months. The connections of HARD SPUN (Danzig) had to be sick. The colt's best effort, a runner-up finish in the Derby, came on the engine. In the Belmont, new rider Garrett Gomez had the colt in third following six furlongs in 1:15 1/5. Hard Spun lacked a finishing kick turning for home, but it would've been nice to see the jockey give him his best chance at success. Mario Pino would've undoubtedly delivered a better ride. Hard Spun will how have the opportunity to recoup, and he could still be a major player in the division. But the big three have separated themselves from him and every other three-year-old. With an expected match-up between the three Triple Crown race winners, the August 25 Travers promises to be dynamite.
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