Champion and 2007 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Rags to Riches died due to the infirmities of old age, announced Coolmore Nov. 24. The daughter of A.P. Indy was 21.
The expectations surrounding Rags to Riches were higher than most as the daughter of a leading sire out of multiple grade 1-placed, graded stakes winner Better Than Honour. Those expectations got turned up a notch at the 2005 Keeneland September Yearling Sale where international bloodstock agent Demi O'Byrne signed a ticket for $1.9 million on behalf of longtime owners Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith. Lane's End handled the consignment for Rags to Riches' breeder Skara Glen Stables.
Rags to Riches wasted little time exceeding those expectations and had earned elite credentials ahead of the Belmont, having won three consecutive grade 1 stakes—two for her primary trainer Todd Pletcher and one with Pletcher's then-assistant Michael McCarthy. She earned a shot in the Belmont with a 5 1/2-length win in the Santa Anita Oaks (G1) and a 4 1/2-length win in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). She made racing history in the Belmont by becoming the first filly in 102 years to win the American classic, became Pletcher's first classic winner, and gave the racing world a day to remember by battling Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Curlin head-to-head to the wire.
Adding to the feat, Rags to Riches became the second consecutive Belmont winner produced by Better than Honour, who is the dam of 2006 Belmont winner Jazil and one of the reason's Rags to Riches' connections felt their filly could handle the 1 1/2-mile classic.
"There was so much that went into the decision to try the Belmont," Pletcher recalled. "She won the Oaks convincingly, she had the pedigree to get the distance, but that was a particularly strong group of colts that year with Curlin, Hard Spun, and Street Sense, who was on the bubble about going to run."
Street Sense won the Kentucky Derby (G1) that year with Hard Spun and Curlin behind him for second and third, respectively.
"When Street Sense decided to take a pass, we felt that taking on two of the colts made more sense," Pletcher continued. "It really was about how well she was training and how strongly we felt she would handle the distance. At the start of the race, when she nearly went to her nose, we felt we had wasted a lot of time and energy discussing all these reasons why or why not to run. We felt we had lost all chance."
Rags to Riches stumbled at the break and raced four or five paths wide throughout the early running. She and Curlin hooked up at the top of the Belmont stretch and it instantly became a two-horse race.
"For her to recover and get back into position and have that stretch-long duel with Curlin. It was one of those races that you go through every motion you can think of," Pletcher said. "She came home (the last quarter mile) in under :24; it was a remarkable achievement for her."
Throughout her career, Pletcher said she was very uncomplicated and professional in training, but in the barn, the grooms needed to be on their toes.
"In the barn, she had a totally different personality. She was very territorial and very aggressive," he said. "She was not a sweet filly to be around. Ultra competitive."
Rags to Riches developed a hairline fracture in her right pastern after a runner-up finish in the 2007 Gazelle Stakes (G1). The hope had been to keep her in training for 2008, but she re-injured her pastern in the spring and had to be retired.
Rags to Riches was named champion 3-year-old filly for 2007 and retired with a 5-1-0 record from seven starts and $1,342,528 in earnings.
As a broodmare, Rags to Riches has not produced a runner yet with her brilliance. She is the dam of three winners so far and has a yearling colt by Uncle Mo and a 2-year-old filly by Munnings .
"Rags to Riches was a truly talented racehorse, and it's been a privilege to be around a horse of her caliber. Her achievements left a lasting impression on all of us, and she brought great pride to her ownership. I would like to thank Bob Davis and his team, who have cared for her with exceptional dedication for over a decade," said Dermot Ryan with Coolmore's Ashford Stud.
Rags was a 2025 finalist for induction into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, but did not receive the 50% plus one votes required for admission.
"I think she is a little underappreciated having not made it to the Hall of Fame yet," Pletcher said. "She was a terrific racehorse. To this day, I think that Belmont was the most exciting race I've been a part of."
