Rags to Riches Much the Best in Kentucky Oaks 133

Rags to Riches made short work of an accomplished field of 3-year-old fillies in the 133rd Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, benefiting from a picture perfect ride under jockey Garrett Gomez to pull away from second-place finisher Octave by 4 ¼-lengths.

As expected, Dreaming of Anna and Mistical Plan each broke alertly to rush up and contest the early pace. The duo navigated the field through fractions of :23.25 for the first quarter-mile and :47.89 for the first half-mile, with last year's Eclipse Award winning 2-year-old filly champion Dreaming of Anna asserting a constant measured advantage over Mistical Plan. All the while, Rags to Riches enjoyed a perfect stalking position in fifth as the leaders splashed through six-furlongs in a moderate 1:12.69.

Moving into the stretch, the Todd Pletcher trained duo of Rags to Riches and Octave made their moves and sailed past the early leaders, neither of which offered any resistance. Rags to Riches showed a quicker burst of speed than her gray stablemate and extended her margin of victory in the stretch. High Heels came running on late to finish another 3 ½-lengths back in third.

Dawn After Dawn closed from twelfth to finish fourth, eleven lengths behind the winner. She was followed under the wire by Mistical Plan, Dreaming of Anna, Tough Tiz's Sis, Autobahn Girl, Cotton Blossom, Swift Temper, Cash Included, Sealy Hill, High Again, and Grace Happens.

The 3-year-old daughter of A.P. Indy covered the 1 1/8-miles over a "sloppy" track in 1:49.99 and paid $5, $3.80, and $2.80. Octave once again found herself in the runner-up position under jockey John Velazquez and paid $5.20 and $3.60. High Heels, piloted by Joe Johnson, came on strong to be third and paid $3.60.

Owned in partnership by Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith, Rags to Riches won for the fourth time in five lifetime starts, with three of those wins coming in Grade 1 races. The win makes her the only member of her crop of either sex to have captured a trio of Grade 1 races. The first place prize of $332,428 pushed her career earnings to $692,528.