This morning, I was laying quietly in bed in the early dark hours with my dog and cats, cozy and happy. The day before, I had been thinking about Rags to Riches and wondering whether she foaled. So, I leaned over, picked up my Blackberry and was delighted that a google alert told me that on Monday night at 9:30pm, Rags had her first filly by Giant's Causeway at Coolmore's Asford Stud near Lexington. Here's a photo of her all fat and happy taken in February, posted on The Bloodline.
You will remember that she was the first filly in 102 years to win the Belmont Stakes and that her dad's Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor felt that she should run in the Kentucky Oaks rather than Derby. She didn't even break a sweat in the Oaks, winning it in a loping frolicking canter. Then those boys rethought their position and entered her in the Belmont. Now mind you, in that race, she had a stumble which almost took her to her face, and she scrambled athletically up to hand a loss to Curlin, Horse of the Year two years running and the winner of the Preakness and Dubai World Cup and Breeders Cup. She's just that fine!
Dermot Ryan, the General Manager of Ashford said, "She had a nice filly foal. All is good. Mother and daughter are doing well." I sure would like to see that filly!
Here's a small detail about the bad economy. In 2007, GC's way stud fee was $300,000, but this Spring 2009, you could have a GC foal for the paltry fee of $125,000. Just saying. Snap up the deal! ;)
Another important detail is that she's related to my two mares. She and Violet share the same great-grandpa, Blushing Groom. They also share other famous notables including Nasrullah, Princequillo, and Traffic. And even Hailee has a masterful relation in Equipoise!