The Mother Goose (Grade 2)- $250.000 Purse
BEL- For Fillies Three Years Old
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
June 25, 2022

Exactly will return to the race track for the first time since winning the KYO at the beginning of May for the Mother Goose, and six others will be looking to bring her down in what should be an entertaining race. It is the 18th time that the former Grade 1 stake has been held. Purse levels have been consistent since the beginning, being either $250.000 or $300.000. In last year’s race, RNP Stables celebrated a victory with his Creepy Time filly, Shining Moments. She’d win a couple more times that year, and has mostly been seen on the turf since. Now, let’s take a look at those going to post for this year’s race!

#1- Venezia (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by M Franco)- On the rail, this Distant Sunset filly got her three year old campaign started off right with back to back wins which included the $100.000 El Camino, beating the boys there. She also ran against males in the SA Derby, and was third in the race, so surely she’s flashed plenty of potential. Those races may have prevented her from running in the KYO, however. Last month, she should have been one of the better horses in the Black Eyed Susan, but was beaten by five lengths. I think she can recover from that.

#2- Exactly (Smokey Stover, ridden by E Jaramillo)- Last month at CD, Exactly joined an exclusive list of fillies to win the KYO. It was just the start of what proved to be an incredible weekend in the Bluegrass State for the trainer. We have not seen Exactly on the track since, so there is no question that she is ready to roll here. This filly is not just about a win in the KYO, though, as she has hit the board in ten of her eleven career starts and also won the Honeybee in late February. She’s the one to beat.

#3- Ask Forfree Delivery (Arindel, ridden by J C Ferrer)- If Exactly does get beat here, I like this filly to be the one that does it. Last month, she ran in the Grade 2 Black Eyed Susan after not being able to take part in the KYO. She finished second in that race, missing by a length. Right now, her career highlight victory is the $100.000 Busanda, and it seems as though it is inevitable that she will win a graded stake soon. Ran fourth in the SA Oaks while trying to come from behind, but her best results are when she is on or near the lead.

#4- Stinky Rene (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by J R Velazquez)- This will be her first start on the main track this year, but it is all that she ran on as a two year old, so she is no stranger to it. She’s made more starts than anyone here, twelve, but has only made two visits to the winners circle. Could just be having a bit of tough luck, as she has been within a length of the winner in her last three races. Would not be surprised to see her crack the top four, but it would take a career best to get the victory.

#5- Gamine (Robeth, ridden by I Ortiz Jr)- Broke her maiden in her sixth career start, looking sharp over seven furlongs at TAM in the first race she ran with bute. She was moved into the stakes ranks off of that, and in two starts, has not really shown a lot. Beaten by five lengths last month in the $100.000 Ruling Angel, but the trainer is confident that his filly will recover from that well enough to be nominated here. It’s a tough ask, but anything is possible.

#6- Low Budget Java (Nakamura Stables, ridden by E J Wilson)- Last month, this filly struggled in the Black Eyed Susan, tiring after running on the lead to finish last and be beaten by six lengths. You’d like to say that is easy to throw out, but in the race prior to that, the $300.000 SUN Oaks, she was a non-factor, running ninth. Since winning the Martha Washington in January, Low Budget Java has been ineffective, but we know the potential is there. Is this the race the trainer gets her back on track?

#7- No Pain (Nj Vets, ridden by F De La Cruz)- Finished her two year old season strong, and scored a win in the $100.000 Sandpiper Stakes at TAM in December. That has not yet translated into strong form as a three year old, but at the same time, she has only made two starts this year. She was last seen running six furlongs in the $125.000 Star Shoots, and didn’t beat anyone. Maybe she just needed more distance, and she will get that here. A work in late May does not get me too excited.

Prediction: 2-3-1-6

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES