Belmont: Gateway to the Breeders Cup

The 33-day Belmont Park fall meeting features stakes galore, including final preps for thoroughbreds hoping to qualify for Breeders? Cup races next month at Monmouth Park.

Among the stars is Rags to Riches, returning to horse racing on Saturday following minor physical setbacks that sidelined her after becoming the first filly in 102 years to win the Belmont Stakes.

After the daughter of A.P. Indy captured the third jewel of the Triple Crown on June 9, there was talk she?d take on the boys in the BC Classic. But now her goal is the BC Distaff and she?s using the $250,000 Gazelle Handicap for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles as prep.

Rags to Riches breezed six furlongs in 1:14 4/5 in her final workout on Sept. 8 for the Grade 1 race, galloping out seven furlongs in 1:27 3/5.

Trainer Todd Pletcher was pleased. "I thought she looked good and galloped out strongly. We?re looking forward to getting back to the races so we?re excited about the Gazelle."

Serena?s Song, another filly that captured the Gazelle, took on the boys in the ?95 Kentucky Derby, but didn?t fare too well. The daughter of Rahy led for more than a mile, but faded badly and finished 16^th in the 19-horse field.

Rags to Riches most likely will face a small field in one of the 11 Grade 1 races among 36 stakes through Oct. 21 that includes Lear?s Princess and Le Chateau.

The daughter of Lear Fan hasn?t finished lower than second in five career outings this year, winning three times, but two victories were on the turf. Lear?s Princess was runner-up in two Grade 1 stakes at 1 miles ? the Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont on July 21 and the Alabama on Aug. 18 at Saratoga. Rags to Riches had been scheduled to run in each, but had to skip both.

Le Chateau has two victories ? breaking her maiden at Fair Grounds in February and winning an allowance race at Churchill Downs in May. But the daughter of Chester House hasn?t traveled beyond 1 1/16 yards in nine career outings.

The Gazelle is featured on one of the 10 multi-stakes afternoons. On Sept. 22, the 119th running of the $150,000 Brooklyn Handicap at 1 1/8 miles for 3-year-olds and up gives Any Given Saturday his first crack at older horses.

If he duplicates his Dwyer and Haskell Invitational victories in the Grade 2, he will become a strong candidate for Horse of ?07 during a year dominated by sophomores.

Curlin, third to Street Sense in the Kentucky Derby before winnings the Preakness, will go against older horses in the $750,000 Jockey Gold Cup at 1 miles on Sept. 30. He might be joined by Street Sense, but trainer Carl Nafzger is trying to make up his mind which of five races will be the BC Classic prep for the son of Street Cry.

However, 4-year-old Lawyer Ron may have something to say about it. The son of Langfuhr broke the Saratoga track record for 1 1/8 miles while winning the Whitney and later captured the Woodward.

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