The Mother Of All Stakes
A total of 17 nominated for the Grade 1 $250,000 Mother Goose Stakes this weekend at Belmont Park and all are looking to join a list of who’s who in the racing game.
For 3-year-old fillies, the 8 and a half-furlong fixture has been won by some monsters over the years and the list is impressive. First run in 1957, Dark Mirage and Shuvee won this fixture in 1968 and 1969 but they were just the tip of the iceberg of quality ladies that shined in this race.
The incomparable Ruffian cashed in 1975, Life’s Magic won 9 years later, Go for Wand opened up the 90s with a win in this race and Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra totally dominated the action last year.
Rachel came from third last year to win by over 19 lengths after tracking :44.66 and 1:08.86 splits to post a 111 Beyer, the second highest of her career.
This year the race will encompass a small but classy field as they will square off on Saturday.
Ailalea basically flattered Kentucky Oaks winner Blind Luck by winning her last race after getting crushed by Luck. The Todd Pletcher miss is sharp, and you can build a case that she will sit a nice possible 3-hole trip. She fits on the Beyer scale but will likely need a career race to put wins together.
Biofuel is a perfect 2 for 2 this year after running a good 4th in her 2009 finale in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. She was catching soft splits in both Woodbine wins and could be left with too much work to do in the lane.
One of Biofuel’s best assets is that she showed she has class when running well short and long. Drawn inside Saturday, rider Da Silva will have to invent a trip.
Connie and Michael has talent but is lightly raced as are all the ladies in the race.
The key for the backers of Connie and Michael will be how easy a lead she will get. Capable of going :45 and change, she slowed them down last time and had plenty in the tank to draw off late.
Pletcher will also saddle Devil May Care and Katy Now. The former hated the slop in her last race in the Kentucky Oaks but is also the only proven Grade 2 winner in the field.
While Katy Now beat up on 4 rivals in a non-winners of 2 other than race in her last and will be getting the acid test.
With the class nominees of this race, Champagne d’Oro, Blind Luck and Quiet Temper, not entered, the race really opens up.
This is how the visualization of the race is seen. Connie and Michael will gun and make the lead. Both of her wins have been wire to wire so she really has little option. One of the Pletcher runners will be sent along to chance Connie and Mike and it will likely be Katy Now.
Look for that pair to duel for 6 furlongs before the race starts to sort itself out.
Ailalea will sit third, Devil May Care will rate in 4th and Biofuel will be off the gas until the final furlong.
As they turn for home, the leaders will feel the pinch of making all the running and Devil May Care will make that looping move turning for the wire.
At the end, Devil prevails going away as Connie and Michael holds second to longshot and deep closer Biofuel.
