Theogony stalks then parks in Rags to Riches Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. - In the duPont Distaff at Pimlico on May 20, Theogony dropped too far back and then finished with a furious late run to miss catching victorious Ahh Chocolate by a half-length. Trainer Mark Casse didn't want to chance that happening again in the $150,000 Rags to Riches Stakes on Friday at Belmont Park, so he put a speedy half-mile work of 46.60 into her a week ago.

Casse's plan worked to perfection as the typically late-running Theogony left the gate running in the 1 1/2-mile Rags to Riches and settled into a perfect stalking position just off pacesetting Milaya. Theogony took the lead when jockey Julien Leparoux asked entering the stretch and pulled away to win by eight lengths.

"We weren't sure about the 1 1/2 miles, but we said, 'Let's give it a try,'" Casse said. "The work sharpened her up."

Theogony paid $4.80 as the second choice behind 6-5 favorite Mei Ling. She was timed in 2:28.42 after Milaya set an even pace of 24.75, 49.57, 1:14.21, and 1:38.91.

There was a sizeable gap early in the race from Milaya and Theogony to the other three runners in the field, as Mei Ling Joint Return, and Sweetgrass lagged well back.

Mei Ling finished second, 2 1/4 lengths ahead of Sweetgrass. Joint Return beat Milaya by a half-length for fourth.

Theogony is owned by the Conrad Farms of Manfred and Penny Conrad, which is located outside of Toronto. The Conrads got into racing within the last 10 years, according to Manfred Conrad.

Theogony, a 6-year-old daughter of Curlin, has now won five of 19 starts and $404,544.