By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
In a commanding performance, Rags to Riches received the win in the 133rd running of the Kentucky Oaks on Friday, May 4th, 2007, at Churchill Downs. The three-year-old filly, ridden by using jockey Garrett Gomez and educated via Todd Pletcher, went off as the favorite inside the race and did not disappoint her backers.
Breaking from the outside post in the 10-horse field, Rags to Riches settled into a comfortable tempo early on, tracking the leader, Sutra, as they made their way around the track. As they approached the very last turn, Gomez urged Rags to Riches to pick up the tempo, and the filly responded back with a burst of speed that left the relaxation of the sector in her wake.
With a powerful stride and a decided demeanor, Rags to Riches cruised to the finish line, triumphing by using four 1/4 lengths and putting a brand new record for the Kentucky Oaks of distance of 1 1/8 miles in 1 minute, 48.64 seconds.
The win became a brilliant achievement for Rags to Riches, who had been bought for just $1.9 million as a yearling and had already installed herself as a talented runner with a win inside the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks within the past year.
For Pletcher, who had previously gained the Kentucky Oaks in 2004 with Ashado, the victory became a testomony to the filly’s expertise and spirit.
“She’s a unique filly,” Pletcher said after the race. “She’s got the talent, the speed, the stamina, and the coronary heart.”
Gomez, who picked up his first Kentucky Oaks win, was equally effusive in his reward for Rags to Riches.
“She’s wonderful,” he stated. “She’s got a whole lot of coronary heart, and she or he simply likes to run.”
The win was significant for Rags to Riches’ proprietor, Michael Tabor, who had formerly won the Kentucky Oaks together with his mare, Ashado, in 2004. With Rags to Riches’ victory, Tabor became the first owner within the history of the race to win the Oaks two times in 3 years.
For racing fans, the 2007 Kentucky Oaks become a memorable race that showcased the exceptional of the sports talent and ardour. With Rags to Riches’ marvelous victory, the filly mounted herself as a growing megastar inside the world of thoroughbred racing.
