If you called the shots on Rags to Riches.......

[_ed_]

Surprised to see people saying they'd sell her. If I owned a horse that good there'd be no amount of money big enough to sell her.

I'd sell her to the top slaughterhouse in France on the condition that I get first dibs on her hind quarter.

[letswastemoney]

Her name doesn't make sense. She cost $1,900,000, yet she's called Rags to Riches lol.

[Zaf]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hdu96Karizs

[hi_im_god]

Originally Posted by _ed_

Surprised to see people saying they'd sell her. If I owned a horse that good there'd be no amount of money big enough to sell her.

if i owned her she'd be the largest asset i had by at least 40x and i'd want to diversify.

you only think you'd keep her. you'd live far beyond your present means for the rest of your life or...

have the pride of running her again.

as marsellus says to butch, "you'll feel a small twinge...that's pride"

the next line from that movie is how i feel.

[_ed_]

But she's already won $1.2 million, that's plenty of money in my opinion.

It's not just the pride of seeing her run, if I had a horse who won even one of those great races the horse would become more than just an asset. I'd feel strongly attached to the horse, who would almost be part of the family.

I'd keep her. I guess it's understandable to feel otherwise, but I'd rather have $1 million and one of the best horses of her generation than lose her in exchange for more money than I'd ever need.

[RolloTomasi]

Test-Alabama-Ruffian-Jockey Club Gold Cup-BC Distaff-retire.

The way Pletcher's barn is holding together, the gut-wrenching stretch duel with Curlin, the ominous stumble at the start, and the probable presence of solid fillies with equally stamina-laden pedigrees (Christmas Kid and Boca Grande), all make her somewhat vulnerable in the 10f CCA Oaks. And if she loses that, she's likely to be retired immediately.

Losing the Test won't mean anything, would showcase her versatility if she won, and at the very least would be a great tune-up for the late season campaign.

[Bigsmc]

She's done enough. Send her to The Green Monkey as soon as he comes up with a minor injury and is retired before his deubt.

[Danzig]

if you're in the business for the long haul, or not on your deathbed, you sell. risk vs return, future racing endeavors, etc....

situations like this remind me of those two lucky fellows who took out second mortgages on their houses, and bought a filly who turned out to be special. she's a devil due--they turned down offers while she was racing, and refused to sell her as a broodmare when she retired. we'll breed her ourselves they said...she died foaling, and the foal was lost as well. it doesn't always happen, but it does happen.

so, if you're filthy rich and can afford any horses you want--by all means, keep her. but the question was if you or i had her--now, i may be wrong--but i don't think anyone here is filthy rich!!


as for her schedule, i'd prep her vs fillies, and if she's doing well, run in the travers. then see how things go--but i'd probably run her in the distaff---but with invasor retiring, the classic doesn't seem as daunting of a task.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Test-Alabama-Ruffian-Jockey Club Gold Cup-BC Distaff-retire.

The way Pletcher's barn is holding together, the gut-wrenching stretch duel with Curlin, the ominous stumble at the start, and the probable presence of solid fillies with equally stamina-laden pedigrees (Christmas Kid and Boca Grande), all make her somewhat vulnerable in the 10f CCA Oaks. And if she loses that, she's likely to be retired immediately.

Losing the Test won't mean anything, would showcase her versatility if she won, and at the very least would be a great tune-up for the late season campaign.

Why on earth would you run her in a prep for the BC against males, then run her against females on BC day?

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

Why on earth would you run her in a prep for the BC against males, then run her against females on BC day?

for that matter, why would she retire immediately if she lost the ccao?? not like her value will be affected, no stud fee, and they sure aren't gonna sell.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by Danzig

for that matter, why would she retire immediately if she lost the ccao?? not like her value will be affected, no stud fee, and they sure aren't gonna sell.

I didn't mean it as a business decision. If she lost the CCA Oaks it would probably mean there was something wrong with her, which wouldn't be shocking given the history of the barn she runs out of.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

Why on earth would you run her in a prep for the BC against males, then run her against females on BC day?

Well, first off, the JC Gold Cup is not a "prep" for the BC Classic. That sort of attitude is one of the main reasons why the overall quality of racing has dropped considerably in the last decade (another reason being the dominance of the breeding side of the sport).

Secondly, the JC Gold Cup is sure to be a weak event given all the recent retirements, the lack of depth in the division, and the recent trend of giving horses several weeks off prior to the BC. It would be the easiest spot to get a second win against males, this time versus elders. I can't remember the last time a 3yo filly defeated older males in the States.

Lots of females defeated males in the heart of the season and still ran in the Distaff (eg Personal Ensign, Serena's Song, Lady's Secret, Winning Colors, etc).

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Well, first off, the JC Gold Cup is not a "prep" for the BC Classic. That sort of attitude is one of the main reasons why the overall quality of racing has dropped considerably in the last decade (another reason being the dominance of the breeding side of the sport).

Secondly, the JC Gold Cup is sure to be a weak event given all the recent retirements, the lack of depth in the division, and the recent trend of giving horses several weeks off prior to the BC. It would be the easiest spot to get a second win against males, this time versus elders. I can't remember the last time a 3yo filly defeated older males in the States.

Lots of females defeated males in the heart of the season and still ran in the Distaff (eg Personal Ensign, Serena's Song, Lady's Secret, Winning Colors, etc).

It most certainly is a prep for the BC Classic. Anyone who thinks otherwise is kidding themselves. And I don't understand how the JCGC becoming a prep has anything to do with the lessening quality of racing.. All that happened is one race which used to be the destination has become the stepping stone to an even more prestigious destination. That's why racing sucks now? Because something has become more prestigious than the JCGC and reduced it to mainly a prep for something larger? I don't see the correlation.

Secondly, it just doesn't make a bunch of sense to jump in and face elder males, then if she wins, jump back in to face fillies and mares she's already proven she's faster than. If she's good enough to win the JCGC, she's probably too good for the BC Distaff and would be better suited for the Classic. Of course, if you're just trying to get an easy check..

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by _ed_

But she's already won $1.2 million, that's plenty of money in my opinion.

It's not just the pride of seeing her run, if I had a horse who won even one of those great races the horse would become more than just an asset. I'd feel strongly attached to the horse, who would almost be part of the family.

I'd keep her. I guess it's understandable to feel otherwise, but I'd rather have $1 million and one of the best horses of her generation than lose her in exchange for more money than I'd ever need.

I'd feel the same. In order to purchase a horse like that you have to figure you already have a lot of money so I'd want to chase after the record books. I guess fame means more to me than fortune.

[whodey17]

If I owned her, I would sell her with a reserve of $10mm.

[phystech]

Given my own personal financial situation - I'd sell her and try to find another one (or 10) to have more fun with.

[letswastemoney]

I'd retire Rags to Riches and keep her as my pet horse

That would piss off the whole industry probably lol.

[King Glorious]

Haskell, Travers, Super Derby, BC Classic

[Mustanada]

Coaching Club, Alabama, something in the fall if she stays glued, BC

That is a possible 4 races. That's alot. Champions are not racing much these days.

Next year......If anything goes amiss in above races we'll most likely not see her again.