Rags to Riches story
On May 24 I wrote on this blog that Todd Pletcher should give it a shot and run the filly Rags to Riches in the Belmont Stakes, and with only six other colts entered, that made the proposition even more enticing. Ironic that Pletcher's first victory in a Triple Crown race would come with a filly that many said didn't have a chance against Curlin. Well, not only did she have a chance, but she out-gamed the colt as they raced as a team virtually through the entire stretch.
Before the race on ABC's telecast, announcer Brent Musburger compared Rags to Riches to the great Ruffian, arguably the greatest filly of all time. Now, while Rags to Riches' victory was impressive and make no mistake about it, I was rooting for her, she in no way yet can be compared to Ruffian, who was a perfect 10-0 and had never been headed in a race before her ill-fated match race against Foolish Pleasure in July 1975. Rags to Riches may someday indeed go down as one of the greatest fillies ever, but to compare her to arguably the best when she'd won only four races going in, well, it was typical Musburger.
Have they also tried comparing her to Go For Wand, yet? Watch out for that one. Let's hope they don't.
Haven't heard that comparison yet, Chrystal, but the popular thing to do today in the ESPN era that we live in is to instantly jump on an athlete or horse's bandwagon and begin comparing them to the best ever when they haven't even completed their careers yet. Simply amazing.