Is Team Pletcher being too cautious with Rags to Riches?

Question

Her normal temperature is 100.0 to 100.5. Last week a "temperature" of 101.0 caused her team to scratch her from the 7/21 Coaching Club American Oaks. Yesterday during a workout her exercise rider pulled her up after feeling a funny step. The filly seemed fine, a vet check today with full X rays was clean. Yet now she is being shipped to New Bolton for a complete physical. Is this normal care for horses worth millions of dollars? Or is this excessively cautious? Is the memory of Barbaro still lingering in everyone's minds? Will she ever run again?

Answer 1

I was disappointed in her being scratched, but I don't think it's unreasonable. Her owners have tons of money and can afford the VERY best of care for her.

As far as her work out and being pulled up, I commend her exercise rider! She obviously felt there was something not quite right, and who knows better than someone who rides her day in and day out? I believe she took the right measures, why risk the horse herself? Even if there was nothing wrong.

I think the memory of Barbaro is in the back of every horseman/woman's mind. How can it not be? Anyone associated with race horses knows what happened to Barbaro can happen to any horse at any time. Better to be on the cautious side than to throw caution to the wind.

I believe we will see her again in the Alabama. And then hopefully at The Travers since it seems Curlin is going to run in the Haskell. That's one rival she wouldn't have to face, and yet she would go up against the one she hasn't faced: Street Sense.

This is going to be one of the best seasons at Saratoga, and I can't wait! LET THE RACING BEGIN!!!

Answer 2

No they are not being to cautious.  If it were my horse I'd want every single angle checked out - just to be sure the horse was sound.

The last thing the sport needs right now is another tragic breakdown like Barbero, Go For Wand or Ruffian.

Answer 3

I'm a long-time racing fan and it sounds like reasonable treatment for a top racehorse. An error in judgement now could lay waste to countless millions in future earnings and broodmare fees.

Answer 4

That horse is one in a million and you can not be to careful with a horse like her. The only filly to win the Belmont in 102 years. She is worth nothing but money. Millions and millions.

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Answer 5

no..she is o.k.

they won the coaching club..with their back up

entry...when she returns she will romp....

just relax and get the money.....

Answer 6

Pletcher is under pressure from the owners to save Rags to Riches for breeding purposes. As a dam, Rags can't make as much money as a sire but breeding could result in a multi-million dollar career whereas racing is fraught with risk.

Answer 7

This mare is worth alot of money now.  They will in no shape jeopardize this filly's physical condition.  They must protect her to the extreme and it has nothing to do with barbaro.  Horses breakdown everyday at the track.  They are just protecting there investment.  They want her too be able to win more money and produce top foals.

Answer 8

No.. She will not run again in my opinion..

Answer 9

I think they are being smart.  She's already accomlished so much, the Coaching Club is small potatoes.  On the other hand, it was a second grade one for her stable mate Octave, so that was the right move for the barn.  She'll be back to prep once or twice for the Breeder's Cup, if that goes well she'll head to Jersey...and then she'll probably start making million dollar babies.