Happy Mother Goose Day!

This is a very strong card at the Big A today with five stakes races. The Grade II Mother Goose headlines the day but there are also two Grade IIIs on the turf – the Long Island and the Hill Prince along with the Pumpkin Pie and Dwyer Stakes.

Trivia Question: Why is there a stakes race at Aqueduct named for a character in a nursery rhyme (Mother Goose)?  

Race 9 – The Mother Goose – Grade II

One Mile and One Furlong on the Dirt for Three Year Old for Fillies

1. Being Myself: Curlin filly broke her maiden going a mile at Ellis Park in August off an eleven month layoff. Came right back and handled an N1X field at Churchill (80 Beyer). Should get a decent trip from this post as she is tactical and can hold her position. Lasix is OFF. Minor award.
2. Queen Azteca: Won the UAE Oaks in Dubai then took on the colts in the UAE Derby but was overmatched. Then she went to Sweden and bested the boys at eleven furlongs. That form didn’t translate to the Spa where she was not close in the Alabama (73 Beyer). Show me.
3. Lemon Zest: Brad Cox trainee comes here off a decent second in the Remington Park Oaks where she took the early lead but was bested by So There She Was (75 Beyer). That followed wins in a maiden and an N1X race. She was on the pace in those two wins. Should be early speed. Don’t think she wants more ground.
4. Ourdaydreaminggirl: In the Catherine Sophia Stakes she was a good second (80 Beyer). Then she just missed in the Grade I Cotillion as she came from the clouds to lose by a neck (91 Beyer). She has improved as she as gone longer, so today’s distance should suit. Dangerous.
5. Filly Freedom: Broke her maiden last out for Chad Brown as they added blinkers and went a mile (76 Beyer). In that win she stalked on the rail and then blew them away under a vigorous hand ride to win by eight. Faces winners for the first time. Not convinced.
6. Fully Subscribed: Chad Brown trainee filly by began her three year old campaign at the Spa where she went a mile from the Wilson Chute and ran well but was out finished by Cue the Duckboats who she meets again today. Her most recent effort was decent second in optional claiming company as she made a strong run at it only to come up a neck short (88 Beyer). Tiz The Law filly is eligible for improvement in only her fourth career start The Pick.
7. Cue the Duckboats: Two back she won an Allowance race at Saratoga via a patient ride by Junior Alvarado as she was strongest in the final sixteenth (80 Beyer). That led to a start in the restricted Ontario bred Damsel Stakes at Woodbine where she was in position but was one-paced on the all-weather track. (74 Beyer). Lasix comes off. Meh.
8. So There She Was: Won the Remington Park Oaks last out where she bested Lemon Zest after pressing the pace (79 Beyer). Two back she tried to take them all the way in the Grade III Torrey Pines at Del Mar at 25-1 and she led until the final hundred yards (83 Beyer). Does she want to go longer? Exotics.
9. Drexel Hill: Won the Busher Invitational over this track back in March (79 Beyer). That win led to the Kentucky Oaks where she surprised with a second to Good Cheer at 32-1 as she closed from the back of the pack (88 Beyer). She has been off since the Oaks as she had a minor bone chip removed. She has been working steadily leading to this effort. Should drop out the back from this outside post and come running late. If she’s ready – she’s the one to beat. Using.

Picks 6-9-4-1

Race 10 – The Long Island – Grade III

One Mile and Three Furlongs on the Inner Turf

for Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Up

1. No Show Sammy Jo: Last out she won the All Along Stakes at Laurel at 2/5 by a nose (78 Beyer). Two back she was poor in the Glens Falls Stakes as she didn’t appear to care for the soft going. Only has two timed works since her last race in mid-September. Was second in this race last year when she was in better form. Not fast enough.
2. Grayosh: Chad Brown stretches this one out to eleven furlongs. Best performance this year was in the Matchmaker at Monmouth where she had a ground saving trip and made a determined run to miss by a neck (89 Beyer). Consistent performer with Beyers in the mid to upper 80s – but that won’t be enough here. But the Prat is riding – everything he is on live. Contender.
3. Beach Bomb: Ran well in the Waya at the Spa where she got to the lead but was caught late (94 Beyer) after some bumping in the stretch. Her form is dirtied up a bit as you can throw out the Kentucky Downs race and the Beverly D was a bit too sharp. Today’s distance suits her better. Only one work in the month since the Waya. Best effort was a good second in the Grade I New York over a very soft Spa turf course. The Pick.
4. Brocknardini: New York bred has primarily been running in state bred races but has not broken through at the state bred stakes level. Now tries open stakes company with a quick two week turnaround after a fifth place finish in the state bred Ticonderoga Stakes (81 Beyer). Not sure she wants to go eleven furlongs. Blinkers go on. Passing.
5. Lady Firefoot: After running through her N2X condition she moved to stakes company but to little effect finishing seventh in the Athenia and eighth in the Waya (85 Beyer). Don’t see it.
6. Immensitude: Has been running well in high priced optional claiming races. Two back she set the pace but couldn’t hold on (88 Beyer). Similar trip in her most recent race, but that day she did hold on to get the win (89 Beyer). Will need to carry her speed further. Was third in this race last year. Gets a piece.
7. Alluring Angel: Mott trainee was a good third in the Waya over this track last month as she closed but not able to catch the top two (93 Beyer). That was the first time she went further than nine furlongs and they may have found what this mare wants to do – marathon routing. Carmouche stays abord. Gets a slice.
8. Amber Cascade: Ran well two back in the Flower Bowl where she had to alter course in the lane but kept running hard to the line for second (94 Beyer). Last out in the Rodeo Drive at Santa Anita she was wide and didn’t show a strong enough finishing kick after being closer to the pace (84 Beyer). Underneath.
9. Way to Be Marie: Runs here off a good showing at Kentucky Downs in the Lady Marathon where she was the runner up (90 Beyer). That was a Beyer top and I don’t expect a repeat today given difference in the course. Prior efforts weren’t competitive with this field. Passing.
10. Fun With Flags: Chad Brown trainee hasn’t won a race this year from five starts and now tries the longer. Last out she finished behind Immenistude by a couple of lengths. Maybe more ground will suit. Lean against.
11. Alimara: Also Eligible Third of the “Chads” failed to fire in the Waya last out (82 Beyer) in her first stakes attempt. Prior to that attempt she was decent in lower level races, but nothing to write home about. Won a N1X race at the Spa (84 Beyer) going today’s distance. Don’t see it.
12. Bernietakescharge MTO This NY bred has good on fast tracks against state breds and poor over off tracks. Has a couple of 90+ Beyers on fast dirt tracks. Two week turnaround. Dirt pick.
13. Purloin: MTO Linds Rice trainee is the second MTO and she won her last race in a starter allowance going the flat mile (71 Beyer). Will need to show she can stretch out. Slice on the dirt.

Picks 3-2-7-8 

Trivia Answer: The Mother Goose Stakes is actually named for the filly “Mother Goose” who was owned by H.P. Whitney and was Two Year Old Co-Champion of the year for 1924.