It's Rags to Riches!

When I was growing up, I was obsessed with horses (especially black ones). While I don't think about horses quite so much anymore, I watched the Preakness last month and the 139th Belmont Stakes today. Horse Racing is the sport of Kings, you know.

The Belmont was exciting! I was going to cheer for Curlin, who won the Preakness, but during the race couldn't make up my mind. CP West was a gorgeous black, but then . . .

AP: It's the filly! Rags to Riches takes Belmont Stakes---

NEW YORK (AP) -- Rags to Riches is racing's queen for a day.

The fabulous filly outdueled Preakness winner Curlin in a breathtaking stretch run and won the Belmont Stakes by a head Saturday, becoming the first of her sex in more than a century to take the final leg of the Triple Crown.

"My hat is off to Rags to Riches," said Curlin's trainer, Steve Asmussen, who never gave up hope his chestnut colt would prevail in the dramatic final strides.

Rags to Riches is the first filly to win in 102 years, since Tanya in 1905. Before the race, the commentators were doing a story on the fact that no filly had won in that many years and how fillies are usually not as strong as the male horses (which is really a big "no kidding"), etc., etc. But, apparently, Rags to Riches is a bit bigger than the typical filly and trains with male horses. She certainly did well against them today!

Rags to Riches became the third filly to capture the Belmont -- Ruthless took the first running in 1867 and Tanya won in 1905. Only 22 fillies have tried the Belmont, with Rags to Riches the first since Silverbulletday finished seventh in 1999.

Very elite company.

Despite a slight stumble at the start, Rags to Riches turned the Belmont into a sensational showdown -- a true battle of the sexes.

When the field of seven 3-year-olds turned for home, four horses were up front, Rags to Riches on the outside and Curlin sneaking in between two other rivals.

In an instant, it became a two-horse race -- a quarter-mile to the finish of the 1 1/2 -mile Belmont, the longest and most grueling of the Triple Crown races.

The end was quite exciting and I was on my feet. Horses are such beautiful creatures. I am in awe.

Congratulations, Rags to Riches!
Isn't she a beauty? (#7) I really want to go to a horse race now!