Riches Dethroned By Princess

Rags To Riches succumbed to a first defeat in six starts at Belmont Park on Saturday.

Todd Pletcher's filly lowered the colours of Curlin in the Belmont Stakes on her penultimate outing but had to make do with second behind Lear's Princess in the Grade One Gazelle Stakes.

The Kiaran McLaughlin-trained three-year-old came with a withering late run under Eibar Coa to prevail by half a length from the four-time Grade One scorer.

McLaughin, who will now ready his charge for the Breeders' Cup Distaff, said: 'The addition of blinkers might have made a difference ? she deserved to win a Grade One.

'I hate that we had to beat Rags to Riches in a way, but that gives much more credit to our filly.'

Pletcher was not too downcast and is also plotting a raid on the Distaff at Monmouth Park on October 27.

He told the www.thebloodhorse.com: 'I would never be discouraged with the filly.

'I still think she is the best three-year-old filly in the country.

'I think she is one of the best we have seen in a long time.'

(C) PA Sport