In the Ladies Corner, Octave
Unbridled Belle, Nashoba's Key, Ginger Punch Join Breeders' Cup
With the brilliant filly Rags to Riches on the sidelines, the female side of the Breeders' Cup World Championships will still have Octave, Unbridled Belle, Nashoba's Key.
In the ladies corner of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, there will a large absence of Rags to Riches. The Todd Pletcher trained filly gave a gut-wrenching performance to win the Belmont Stakes against the colts, in particular, opposite the big and burly Curlin, with whom she battled through the entire homestretch. The wired finish took something out of both the thoroughbreds.
Curlin successfully returned this past weekend. But Rags to Riches fell aside to illnesses after the Belmont.
Rags to Riches' Injury
In the $250,000, 1-1/8 miles Gazelle Stakes Sept. 15, Rags to Riches ran second to Lear's Princess. After the race, Pletcher said the filly didn't run badly, but it was well known that she had been fighting illness since the Belmont and had missed workouts. Her jockey, John Velazquez, said Rags to Riches got tired in the Gazelle run, an atypical reaction from the talented filly.
The real bad news came Sunday morning after that race. Rags to Riches will not run again this year. An examination and X-rays revealed a hairline fracture at the right front pastern. It is not a career-ending injury, but a heart-breaking one, as the filly stirred all of horsedom with her Belmont win, and, of course, her presence in the Breeders' Cup would help fill a lot of seats.
Pletcher speculated the fracture came about during the filly's stretch run in the Gazelle when she switched to her right lead. It wasn't a smooth switch. She lugged in and came off the bridle.
Key on Nashoba
Unbeaten Nashoba's Key may have earned the favorite's role for the Breeders' Cup Distaff with her Grage 1 win over Citronnade in the $400,000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes on Sept. 30. However, the filly is dirt track challenged, having been a turfer in her previous victories. Her owners say she may be a better candidate for the 1-3/8 miles Filly and Mare Turf.
Octave Leads Other Strong Entries
Pletcher's Octave is the winner of the $300,000, 1-1/4 miles Coaching Club American Oaks (July), and of the $250,000, 1-1/8 miles Mother Goose Stakes (June). Those races comprise the final two legs of the Triple Tiara for fillies.
Unbridled Belle took the measure of Indian Vale in the $612,000,1-1/8 miles Beldame Stakes Sept. 30 and finished second to Miss Shop in the August $400,000 Personal Ensign Stakes, a 1-1/4 miles event.
Ginger Punch, a Bobby Frankel trained filly, winner of the Ruffian Handicap in September; Gazelle Stakes champion Lear's Princess, a Kiaran McLaughlin charge; and Lady Joanne, ridden by the forever young Calvin Borel and trained by the crafty Carl Nafzger, victor in the Alabama Stakes (August), are all strong entries to the Breeders' Cup Distaff.
