Tatters to Riches Scores First Stakes in Shared Belief
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Tatters to Riches wins the Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar
Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal's Tatters to Riches may have a ways to go in earnings to get to his $1 million price tag, but he took a significant step in the right direction Aug. 25 in the $100,000 Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar.
In his second race back off an 11-month layoff to recover from an ankle chip, the 3-year-old Union Rags colt stalked early leader Afleet Ascent, moved alongside in the final turn of the one-mile dirt test, and pulled away in the stretch to win by 3 3/4 lengths.
"He's a big, long-striding horse, and we always knew that sprinting wasn't going to be his game and two turns would be better for him," trainer Jeff Mullins said of Tatters to Riches, who won his 6 1/2-furlong allowance return Aug. 4 at Del Mar over graded stakes winner Solid Wager. "But we were excited about this race. I wish we would have had more time (between races), but it didn't work out that way. It's a feeling of accomplishment and relief, both."
Jockey Tyler Baze got Tatters to Riches into position quickly in the Shared Belief, about a length off Afleet Ascent, through fractions of :23.49 and :47.58. Through six furlongs in 1:12.11, Afleet Ascent's advantage was down to a head and was soon gone entirely. Tatters to Riches had a one-length lead with a furlong to run and extended it to the wire to finish the distance in 1:36.94.
"He broke sharp and put me right where I wanted to be," Baze said. "So much credit to Jeff and the guys at the barn. They've spent a lot of time getting this horse right. Now he's a dream. I hope he keeps on going and becomes a real dream horse."
Afleet Ascent held second, another 3 3/4 lengths ahead of Shivermetimbers in third. Yulong Warrior and Cool Bobby completed the order of finish.
Purchased for $1 million by his owners from Paul Sharp's consignment to the 2017 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, Tatters to Riches was a $60,000 pinhook by Sharp and Liz Crow from Lane's End's consignment to the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He pushed his earnings to $133,545 with his first stakes win, and has three wins from four starts. He was bred in Kentucky by Mount Brilliant Farm, out of the A.P. Indy mare Poco Mas.