Rags to Riches Pulled Up During Drill

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Rags to Riches Pulled Up During Drill
by Claire Novak
Date Posted: 7/22/2007 5:04:32 PM
Last Updated: 7/25/2007 4:55:51 PM

Belmont winner Rags to Riches to be examined on Monday.
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Photo: Jeffrey Snyder

Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Rags to Riches was pulled up Sunday morning shortly after beginning a five-furlong workout at Belmont Park. According to Daily Racing Form, the 3-year-old filly did not display any immediate signs of injury.

Exercise rider Lauren Robson thought something felt wrong after galloping Rags to Riches into the work and breaking off slowly at the five-furlong pole. According to DRF, Robson pulled Rags to Riches up after going a sixteenth of a mile.

"Lauren said she started off the breeze and something didn't feel right so she pulled her up," trainer Todd Pletcher told the publication. "I don't know if she stepped on something. . . . But when we got over there she was fine, we got her back [to the barn] she’s fine. We jogged her up and down the shed row and she was fine, but we’ll give it a day or two to make sure everything’s OK."

Pletcher said he would have the filly examined by Dr. Steve Allday Monday at Belmont Park, at which time the trainer will decide whether Rags to Riches will ship to Saratoga on Tuesday or remain at Belmont. "Classify it as a head-scratcher, I guess," Pletcher said. "I just don't know."

The first filly in 102 years to win the Belmont Stakes, Rags to Riches is being pointed toward the Alabama Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Aug. 18. She spiked a fever last week and was scratched from a scheduled start in the Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I) July 21.

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