Rags to Riches Makes History at Belmont: First Filly to Win Belmont Horse Race in 102 Years

Fabulous filly, Rags to Riches, made history at the Belmont Stakes by winning a race that hasn't been won by a filly in 102 years. Rags to Riches pulled ahead of Preakness winner Curlin and winning by a head, according to MSNBC. . Curlin won the Preakness when running nose to nose against Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense at the Preakness three weeks ago.

Rags to Riches stumbled slightly at the start of the race but recovered and came from behind the pack and to a breathtaking stretch run. Rags to Riches and Curlin pulled ahead of the pack for a duel between the sexes. The colt and the filly ran side by side, but the filly, Rags to Riches, pulled ahead by a nose at the finish line. Rags to Riches won the Belmont Stakes over the head to head race with Preakness winner, Curlin.

The Belmont Stakes is the longest and toughest of the Triple Crown Races, which include the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes. It is a race that two fillies that won the Kentucky Derby, Winning Colors and Genuine Risk, could not win, according to Associated Press.

Only 22 fillies have even tried to win the Belmont Stakes Only three fillies have won the Belmont; Ruthless won in 1867, Tanya won in 1905, and now Rags to Riches in 2007.

Rags to Riches championship bloodlines include her father, A.P. Indy and her grandfather, Seattle Slew. Her half brother, Jazil won the Belmont last year.

Trainer Todd Pletcher made the surprise decision to run Rags to Riches after Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense dropped out of the race. Pletcher wasn't going to run Rags to Riches if the top three finisher from The Kentucky Derby and The Preakness met again in New York. When Street Sense dropped out of Belmont, Rags to Riches was in.

Street Sense was not put in the Belmont Stakes as a result of his trainer, Carl Nafzger, and owner, James Tafel, According to MSNBC, the decision was made to keep the Kentucky Derby winner out of The Belmont because there was no chance to win the Triple Crown. The owner and trainer decided not to risk the health of the colt without a chance at winning the the Triple Crown.