Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Rags to Riches breezed on Sunday at Belmont Park for trainer Todd Pletcher, who said no decision has been made about the talented A.P. Indy filly’s status for the Belmont Stakes (G1) on June 9 at Belmont Park.

Pletcher said the Belmont is still under consideration for Rags to Riches as is the 1 1/8-mile Mother Goose Stakes (G1) for three-year-old fillies on June 30.

Three-time Grade 1 winner Rags to Riches breezed five furlongs on the main track at Belmont in 1:00.64, the fifth-fastest move of 28-timed works at the distance.

“She’s doing well,” Pletcher said. “There’s no decision yet.”

Rags to Riches drew off to a 4 1/4-length romp in the 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Oaks on May 4 at Churchill Downs after winning her first three starts of the season. A half sister to 2006 Belmont Stakes winner Jazil, Rags to Riches also won the Las Virgenes Stakes (G1) and Santa Anita Oaks (G1) this season for owners Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith.

Pletcher also dispelled the theory that recent developments regarding jockeys John Velazquez and Garrett Gomez suggest neither Rags to Riches nor Circular Quay will contest the Belmont.

Velazquez, Pletcher’s first-call rider, accepted the mount aboard Coolmore Lexington Stakes (G2) winner Slew’s Tizzy in the Belmont.

Gomez, the regular rider of some of Pletcher’s top horses, including champion Wait a While and Rags to Riches, will ride Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) runner-up Hard Spun in the Belmont.

“All that means is that those guys can’t wait around long enough for somebody to make a decision,” Pletcher said. “If [Circular Quay] runs, we’ll get somebody on him.”

Velazquez rode Circular Quay to a sixth-place finish in the Derby and fifth-place finish in the Preakness Stakes (G1). Gomez rode Any Given Saturday to an eighth-place finish for Pletcher in the Derby and was aboard the Pletcher-trained King of the Roxy for a sixth-place finish in the Preakness.

Belmont Stakes contender Tiago worked one mile on Sunday on the Cushion Track all-weather surface at Hollywood Park for trainer John Shirreffs. The Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner covered the distance in 1:39.20 handily, the fastest of two timed works at the distance.

The Pleasant Tap colt was seventh in the Kentucky Derby, but willingly closed from off the pace and appeared to have plenty of stamina left while strongly galloping out. A half brother to 2005 Derby winner Giacomo, Tiago will make his sixth career start in the Belmont for owners-breeders Jerry and Ann Moss, who also owned and bred Giacomo.
Source www.thoroughbredtimes.com