GIRLS! JUST WANNA HAVE FUN?

COME SEE RAGS TO RICHES IN CCA OAKS

Brought to you by our proud and enthusiastic sponser, Tri-State Lincoln Mercury Dealers

by, NYRA Press Staff

Ladies love Belmont Park and Belmont Park loves the ladies.

Saturday afternoon, July 21, all women will receive free admission to Belmont Park, where the “Belle of Belmont,” Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches, is scheduled to compete in the featured 91st running of the Grade 1, $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks for three-year-old fillies at a mile and a quarter.

It’s a day for the ladies, whose admission will be provided by Tri-State Lincoln Mercury Dealers, and the last Saturday of Belmont Park’s 2007 Spring/Summer Meet.

ESPN will be on track for live coverage from 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. of the CCA Oaks (4:40 p.m. post time) and the growing legend of Rags to Riches, a $1.9 million yearling purchase who lost her debut race but has now won five straight races, four of them Grade 1s. Of course, her crowning achievement happened here on June 9, when she got a head down in front of Preakness winner Curlin to become only the third filly in history and the first in 102 years to win the 1 ½-mile Belmont Stakes.

The CCA Oaks, one of Belmont Park’s legendary races, has been in existence since 1917. Along the way, great fillies like Top Flight, Black Helen, Vagrancy, Twilight Tear, Bowl of Flowers, Lamb Chop, Dark Mirage, Shuvee, Chris Evert, Ruffian, Davona Dale, Mom’s Command, Open Mind, Turnback the Alarm, Sky Beauty and Ashado have won this race. Rags to Riches would fit nicely in that group.

Rags to Riches was born for Belmont Park. Her sire, A.P. Indy, won the 1992 Belmont Stakes en route to being named Horse of the Year. A.P. Indy is a son of 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew and Weekend Surprise, a daughter of 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat. Rags to Riches’ dam is Better Than Honour, who is also the dam of 2006 Belmont Stakes winner, Jazil.

As she continues on her quest to be Horse of the year, Rags to Riches’ future plans include an appearance at Saratoga Race Course in either the Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama for three-year-old fillies at a mile and a quarter on Saturday, August 18, or another run at the boys in the meet’s biggest race, the 138th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Travers for three-year-olds at a mile and a quarter on Saturday, August 25.

But for now, Ladies Day and the Coaching Club American Oaks on Saturday, July 21, at Belmont Park is the ideal way to see Rags to Riches, racing’s brightest star.