NEW YORK — Todd Pletcher, chick magnet.

The blue-eyed (and happily married dad of three) is the George Clooney of the racetrack, thanks to his bold — but not rash — decision to enter the filly Rags to Riches in Saturday's 139th running of the Belmont Stakes.

Pletcher added some desperately needed sex appeal to the final leg of the Triple Crown and became a ladies' man to boot. Rags to Riches is bound to capture the fancy of every National Velvet in the country, girl and woman alike.

"It will be interesting to see what that does," said Pletcher of his filly's appeal to the more casual racing fan. "She's trying to do something that's really hard to do."

Only 22 fillies have ever competed in the Belmont, the last being Silverbulletday (seventh in 1999), and only two have won (Ruthless in 1867 and Tanya in 1905). Being a half-sister to last year's Belmont winner Jazil, by a Belmont winner (A.P. Indy), the granddaughter of a Triple Crown winner (Seattle Slew) and the great-granddaughter of another (Secretariat), Rags to Riches is better bred for the distance than any of her male rivals.

This is a gutsy move for Pletcher, who seldom runs his distaffers against males (except in the morning, when he routinely trains his best fillies against colts). His barn is crammed to the hayloft with explosive, expensive, royally bred runners of both genders. With plentiful opportunities for graded-stakes wins and rich purse money for females, he can run them within their own divisions and still rack up victories and training titles. Why her, and why now?

"Moving forward, I think this race puts her in a better position if we decide to go into the Coaching Club Oaks (for fillies, July 21 at Belmont)," said Pletcher, who has never won a Triple Crown race. "Honestly, I was very concerned about keeping her as good as she is right now, waiting for three more weeks before the Mother Goose (June 30). She's ready to run now."

The Kentucky Oaks winner drew the outside post in the field of seven and is the third betting choice at 3-1.