Awesome: A “Rags to Riches” Story

Oh okay so that is a little misleading as Mr. Tabor, et. al., and Todd Pletcher are not in anyway shape or form the lesser in this racing game. But a filly winning a Triple Crown Race is in and of its self a type of “Rags to Riches” story. And this was history. And we cried and high 5’d all around, the girls that is.

Now we all went to the Belmont Stakes Saturday knowing that there would be no “Triple Crown Winner” this year. But we go because it is the biggest race of the year in our minds. The Belmont Stakes is a mile and one-half race for three year olds and the last leg of the Triple Crown. The entrants are all baby three year old which have never run a mile and one-half race and are, if not some of, the finest horses in the country if not the world. So to racing aficionados it is one of the greatest and most exciting races ever. And to New Yorkers who love racing it is the biggest, and badest race and a must see not to mention the opportunity to sing “New York, New York” and no one laughs at you.

This year though there was no chance of a Triple Crown there was a chance that history would be made. Rags to Riches was a filly running in the race with a real chance to win and break the streak of the last 102 years. And seeing her in the Paddock cemented that for me and my girl friends, not to mention the crowd. She was clearly the favorite of the crowd and each time she passed the crowd in the paddock a cheer went up. Of course the fact that she was so impressive and awesome looking didn’t hurt. As we went back to our seats we sang the theme from “Rocky.” We knew that we had a winner.

Here is the race with the fabulous Tom Durkin with the call:

Before the race I had said that I thought it would be ironic if Mr. Pletcher, lead trainer, wins his first Triple Crown race with a filly and at his home track!

So, the pundits were wrong, where have we seen that before? Some of us, in light of this historical turnabout, have begun to think that maybe, just maybe, there is a light at the end of the tunnel and it isn’t the train.

Hope springs eternal and we are all looking for a sign. Rags to Riches is hopefully not as good as it gets! But it is a start!

What a gal!