ELMONT, N.Y. - Filly Rags to Riches' historic Belmont Stakes victory was a shining moment for girls everywhere - and for one middle-aged man from Pittsburgh.
Ira Gumberg, 53, of Shadyside bred the daughter of A.P. Indy as part of his Kentucky-based Skara Glen Stables.
"It's a very special time for us," Gumberg said on Sunday evening, about 24 hours after Rags to Riches became the first filly in 102 years to win the 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes.
Gumberg is the CEO and president of shopping mall developer J.J. Gumberg Co. His father, Stanley, 80, started a commercial breeding business about 40 years ago. Now, Ira runs most of the operations.
"I was raised at the dinner table," Ira Gumberg said, "hearing about the business."
Rags to Riches is the second winner of a Triple Crown race this year with local connections. Jim Tafel, 83, who was raised in Pittsburgh and, like Gumberg, graduated from Pitt, owns Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense.
Ironically, Street Sense's decision to skip the Belmont is a big reason Rags to Riches' connections decided to run her against the boys.
Winning the Belmont is nothing new to the Gumbergs. Rags to Riches' half-brother, Jazil, won the third leg of the Triple Crown last year. They are both out of the dam Better than Honour, stabled at Lane's End Farm near Versailles, Ky., where Skara Glen Stables houses its U.S.-based broodmares.
"I was out of town, and I came to Pittsburgh about an hour before the race," Gumberg said. "I had a chance to watch it at home. It was so exciting when she took the lead at the stretch. Last year, Jazil came from way behind. It was so special this year."
As Rags to Riches matched Preakness Stakes winner Curlin down the stretch in front of 46,870, a group of fans in Pittsburgh was standing and urging her on. When she hit the wire a head in front of Curlin, Gumberg and his guests held nothing back.
"I suspect that our neighbors all heard us," he said. "We were very excited."
Trainer Todd Pletcher, who snapped an 0-for-28 drought in Triple Crown races, said his best girl recovered from the race.
"She came back well," he said yesterday. "It was a great day, and I think a popular victory. It was great for the sport and great for the Belmont, and it made for good TV."
Pletcher said Rags to Riches will probably run next in the Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks, a 1 1/4-mile race for 3-year-old fillies on July 21 at Belmont. She also will likely run in either the Grade I Alabama for fillies on Aug. 18 or the Grade I Travers for colts, where she faces a potential rematch with Curlin, on Aug. 25. Both races are at Saratoga.
Gumberg sold Rags to Riches to British multi-millionaires Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith for $1.9 million at the 2005 Keeneland September yearling sale.
Gumberg said he doesn't regret selling the world's best filly. That's his business. He said he would be disappointed if his horses didn't run well for another owner.
"I would say I'm extraordinarily proud of Rags to Riches," he said. "We are in the business to sell the horse to other people to win the big races. Our intentions are not to have the best for ourselves; it's to sell them to the public market."
Gumberg has another quality filly on the way, an unnamed 2-year-old by Storm Cat out of Warrior Queen purchased for $2.2 million. Her trainer is Michael Matz, who conditioned 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro.
