Mother Goose Stakes Preview
by Bodog Racebook | Jun 21 2011
Plum Pretty, winner of the 2011 Kentucky Oaks, is one of the top contenders for the $250,000 Gr. 1 Mother Goose Stakes, which will be held at Belmont Park on Saturday, June 18. Also expected are recent allowance race winner Alseera and fourth-place finisher in the Kentucky Oaks, Joyful Victory.
Sent off as the fourth choice for the Kentucky Oaks and the probable favorite for the Mother Goose Stakes, Plum Pretty recovered from a stumble at the break and held off a rival in the late going to capture the $1M race. Her preceding race was a stunning 25-length blowout in the Sunland Park Oaks on March 27 at Sunland Park. Trained by Bob Baffert, this daughter of Medaglia d’Oro (who also sired 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra) has finished no worse than third in each of her four outings this year. She has earned $761,200 from five career starts and is 3-0-2. She posted a 7-furlong workout at Santa Anita Park on June 12 timed in 1:26.20.
Alseera is a recent allowance race winner at Belmont Park. Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, this daughter of Distorted Humor captured the allowance optional claimer by 2 ½ lengths on May 25. Belmont Park was also the site of her maiden-breaking win in Sept. 2010. This lightly raced 3-year-old has earned $60,300 from three career starts and is 2-0-0. She posted a 4-furlong breeze in 48.96 at Saratoga on June 11. The Mother Goose Stakes will be Alseera’s stakes race debut but track experience will work in her favor.
Joyful Victory, who was sent off as the favorite in the Kentucky Oaks but finished fourth after being steadied in traffic, will be making her next appearance in the Mother Goose Stakes as well. The Tapit filly had been unbeaten going into the Kentucky Oaks, dominating in the Gr. 2 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park on April 10 with a 7-length score and in the Gr. 3 Honeybee Stakes, also at Oaklawn, by a margin of 8 ¾ lengths. Joyful Victory is trained by Larry Jones for Fox Hill Farms and is looking to improve her 6-3-0-1 record and $426,100 in earnings.
Others expected for the 1 1/16 mile race are the one-two finishers in the Gr. 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, Royal Delta and Buster’s Ready.
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