The View From Here . . .
By Bob Morgan, Jr.

I will get back to political analysis next week, but the victory of Rags to Riches, first filly to win the Belmont Stakes in 102 years, is worth recounting, and indeed celebrating, this week.

Although neither a big gambler nor a very serious handicapper, I have always enjoyed the beauty and excitement of horse racing. The challenge of the Belmont Stakes, the grueling mile and a half "Test of the Champion" as it is billed, has particularly intrigued me. I have attended the Belmont annually since 1975, except for my law school years in Nashville. My late wife, Maureen, and I, along with a group of friends, organized a group excursion to the race in 1987 and this tradition continues to this day.

In my years watching the Belmont, I have seen two Triple Crown winning races, Seattle Slew in 1977 and Affirmed in 1978. Nevertheless, since Affirmed barely defeated archrival Alydar twenty nine years ago, in some ways each Belmont has had the mark of futility.

In most years, there was no Triple Crown on the line. In the years after 1978 where there was a Triple Crown possibility, the attempt failed. Yes, there have been some gallant attempts (Silver Charm in 1997, Real Quiet in 1998 and Smarty Jones in 2004 before a crowd of 120,000 come to mind), but none of these efforts have been successful.

But on Saturday, there was success of a different type. Both Rags to Riches and her trainer, Todd Pletcher, had to overcome history. No filly had won the Belmont since Tanya did it 1905. As for Pletcher, he is currently the most successful trainer in America, but rather shockingly had never won a Triple Crown race. Indeed, he was somewhat embarrassed in this year's Kentucky Derby when he saddled five different entrants, all of whom ended up as also rans.

But both Pletcher, who could have run his star filly in a much easier race for females earlier on the Belmont card and Rags to Riches, a daughter of 1992 Belmont winner A.P. Indy, himself the son of the great Seattle Slew, were able to prevail in a monumental race.

Rags to Riches' started off inauspiciously in the Belmont as she stumbled out of the gate, losing a stride as she had to regain her footing. Even after that, she lost some ground as she was forced to run a bit wide. But she slowly gained position, making a bold move to seize the lead. Nevertheless, her main rival in the race, Curlin, the Preakness winner and even money betting favorite, was not done yet.

Track announcer Tom Durkin captured the excitement. "And at the top of the stretch a filly is in front in the Belmont. But Curlin is right there with her. These two in a battle of the sexes in the Belmont Stakes. It is Curlin on the inside, Rags to Riches on the outside. A desperate finish, Rags to Riches and Curlin. They're coming down to the wire. It's going to be very close, and it's going to be ... a filly in the Belmont!"

Yes, it is only a horse race, but the stretch duel in the Belmont was an awesome display of courage and determination by both runners, but especially the game filly who had stumbled earlier. It was also vindication for Pletcher, who took a big chance in running the filly in the Belmont but won his gamble. And it was an uplifting moment for those of us who witnessed history in the making.