Mon Mar 24 14:09:22 2008

Comment | Email | Print

Rags to Riches forced into retirement

---

Hallandale Beach, FL (Sports Network) - Rags to Riches, 2007 Belmont Stakes champ, has been retired due to a hairline fracture. Trainer Todd Pletcher made the announcement on Monday.

Pletcher said that the same hairline fracture that put the filly on the shelf last September is the reason for the retirement. Rags to Riches sustained a hairline fracture of the right front pastern when she finished second to Lears Princess in the Gazelle Stakes at Belmont Park.

Owned by Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, Rags to Riches became the third filly to win the Belmont Stakes over eventual Horse of the Year Curlin. Last year she won the Santa Anita and Kentucky Oaks and was voted champion three- year-old filly.

Rags to Riches won five of seven career starts for $1,342,528.