2007 Belmont
In 2007, a crowd of 46,870 watched Rags To Riches, with jockey John Velazquez and trainer Todd Pletcher, become the first filly in over a century to win the Belmont Stakes.
After Ruthless in 1867 and Tanya in 1905, Rags To Riches is only the third filly ever to win the race – and one of only 22 fillies ever to have competed in it. The last filly to win any Triple Crown race was Winning Colors, who won the Kentucky Derby in 1988.
Of the win by Rags To Riches, trainer Pletcher said “It’s a special feeling now matter when you do it, but when you do it with a filly for the first time in 102 years it’s really special.”
The start of the 2007 Belmont Stakes saw a stumble from Rags To Riches, who went to her knees just outside the starting post. Her jockey, John Velazquez, later said, “Right after that, I thought, good thing it was a mile and a half. She kind of got herself together going to that first turn. After that, she was going comfortable the whole way.”
Curlin, who was trained by Steve Asmussen, entered the Belmont Stakes as the race favourite by 11/1, just three weeks after winning the Preakness Stakes.
A mile into the race and four horses – including Rags To Riches and Curlin – were leading the field.
With jockey Robby Albarado, Curlin made it in front of his two rivals, and from a quarter-mile before the finish, the race became a nail-biting contest, with Curlin and Rags To Riches running neck to neck. Rags to Riches made it over the finish line just a head in front of Curlin, at a time of 2:28:74.
With jockey Mike Smith and trainer John Shirreffs, Tiego took third place in the 2007 Belmont Stakes. Trained by Larry Jones, Hard Spun took fourth.
Who do you think will emerge victorious at the 2008 Belmont Stakes?
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