Today's Daily Racing Form reports mixed news. Rags to Riches was formally retired, after reinjuring her right front pastern as she was going back to training this spring. They are not sure when exactly, but she received a hairline fracture last Fall, either as part of her great champion effort to avoid a spill in the Belmont or later in the summer in the G1 Gazelle Stakes. Anyway, she took a break instead of running in the Breeders Cup and then after a winter off, posted two 3 furlong workouts at Palm Beach Downs.
They've decided to retire her rather than nurse her from this second injury and attempt to race her in late fall. Her owners, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, intend to breed her to Giant's Causeway, a champion thoroughbred who stood as a sire in both Ireland and Australia and who now lives in Versaille, Kentucky at Asford Stud. His race record is 13: 9(8), 4(4), and 0, with earnings of $3,078,989. He ran for two years. He was born Valentine's Day in 1997 and his parents were Storm Cat out of Mariah's Storm by Rahy. His stud fee is $125,000.
Her trainer told the Daily Racing Form, "She will go down in the history books as one of the best fillies ever to run. With the tremendous family that she comes from, she should make a terrific broodmare. We are excited for her and the prospects that lie ahead." I hope she successfully becomes a mom this year!
The photos for this entry are by Getty Images for the Belmont photo and from the Ashford Stud site for Giant's Causeway.
