Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Rags to Riches worked five furlongs Sept. 2 in 1:02 3/5 at Saratoga, getting her training schedule under way after missing a work last week due to a slightly elevated temperature.
Under Angel Cordero Jr., the daughter of A.P. Indy went in splits of :25 2/5 and :37 4/5 to gallop out strongly in 1:15. She worked in company with 2-year-old stablemate The Leopard under exercise rider Kate Priest.
"She worked well and seemed very happy; she galloped out well within herself," said trainer Todd Pletcher, who canceled the filly's Aug. 27 work when she spiked a 102-degree temperature. "She's a pretty relaxed workhorse, so I don't get too consumed with what time she breezes in. From a fitness standpoint, she looked very good, and Angel said he had to reach up and grab her to pull her up when she did.
"She only missed three days of training and one breeze, so it wasn't a huge setback. She has a pretty high level of fitness."
Pletcher said he had not yet decided whether the 3-year-old filly will run in the Sept. 8 Ruffian Stakes (gr. I) or the Sept. 15 Gazelle (gr. I), both at Belmont Park.
"I'll see how she comes out of this work, how she acts," Pletcher said. "I'm not 100% sure what the right or wrong move would be."
