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

While the headliner for the race would be Exactly, the KYO winner, it would be the two that started on each side of her in the gate that would steal the show from her as Venezia and Ask Forfree Delivery would finish in a dead heat. Neither of these two were a surprise, as they were the two that were picked to finish right behind Exactly, though Venezia somehow was allowed to go off at 10/1 odds and the second longest shot on the board. Exactly would disappoint, and could only finish fifth. Venezia is trained by D J C Racing Stables, who seems to be having a good couple weeks in stakes at BEL, and was ridden by M Franco. It is the trainer’s second win in the race, with the prior victory coming in 2013 with the late Lucky Stripes. It’s the first win for the jockey. Ask Forfree Delivery is trained by Arindel, and it’s the first time that he won the race, and that’s also true for jockey J C Ferrer. Congratulations to all involved! They share a race winning time of 1:42.01, which is essentially a median winning time for the race when held at this distance. Let’s take a look at it!

(1/4 Mile- :23.80)- Ask Forfree Delivery breaks sharply out of the gate for Arindel and opens up an uncontested lead of a little more than a length. She’s not outdoing himself with the opening quarter, so the trainer had to like how things set up for her to start. Running right behind her is a group of three that contains the other one who’ll be sharing the winner’s circle photo with her, Venezia, for D J C Racing Stables. She is on the rail, and is technically fourth at this point. The outside horse, TwinTowersRacing’s Stinky Rene has a head in front with this group, and in between horses, Exactly seemed to be in a good spot early on for Smokey Stover. After about two lengths, it’s Gamine (Robeth) in fifth, and Low Budget Java (Nakamura Stables) next on her outside. It’s several lengths more back to No Pain (Nj Vets).

(½ Mile- :47.51)- Ask Forfree Delivery leads the way down the backstretch, and is able to run at her own desired pace at the front as no one is making an effort to challenge her. The three stalkers that were behind her in the opening quarter are still there, and also content to hold on to their spots at this point. Stinky Rene is second, a half length ahead of both Venezia and Exactly. No changes behind them, either, as Gamine and Low Budget Java still are about two lengths back from them and running side by side, with a greater distance to No Pain.

(Top Of Stretch, 1.8F To Go)- Up front, it’s still Ask Forfree Delivery, and she continues to be able to run the type of race that she wants while rounding the turn and moving into the stretch. However, the action is picking up behind her as the three stalkers all move down a lane to be positioned to make the pass. The news wasn’t good for Stinky Rene, though, as she loses ground in the second half of the turn, and starts to drop out of it. Venezia, meanwhile was full of run, and moved into second by a clear length, with her sights set on Ask Forfree Delivery. Exactly lost ground to her, and the concern for her day could now begin. Further back, both Gamine and Low Budget Java had been gaining ground and their passing of Stinky Rene was imminent and Exactly was also in reach. They’d have to pick it up a notch, though, to catch the top two. It was still at least 4-5 more lengths to No Pain.

(Finish- 1:42.01)- Our field looks to make their moves in the stretch, but Ask Forfree Delivery is digging in hard with Venezia trying to complete the pass. With about half a furlong to go, Venezia had poked a head in front and maybe it would be her day. But Ask Forfree Delivery refused to go away and battled back, giving us a good stretch duel between the two of them. Each of them deserved the win, and each of them will get one as the photo could not provide a clear winner. It’s a dead heat! Gamine ran strongly in the stretch to be third, and Low Budget Java did the same, but the photo for show did show Gamine to be a bit in front. Exactly is fifth, topping Stinky Rene and No Pain.

About the Winners:
Venezia, trained by D J C Racing Stables, and ridden to victory by M Franco, is a three year old filly by Distant Sunset and is out of Port Of Venice. She was bred by her trainer in California as a second quarter two year old, and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her third in eight starts, her second stake win, and first graded win. Her career earnings are now $328.090.

Ask Forfree Delivery, trained by Arindel, and ridden to victory by J C Ferrer, is a three year old filly by Ask The Experts and is out of Brilly Mach. She was bred in the great breeding state of Pennsylvania as a second quarter two year old by Williams9, and was acquired by Arindel while she was still unraced in private sales almost exactly one year ago to the day, for $160.000. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her fourth in nine starts, her second stake win and first graded win. Her career earnings are now $302.650.

Track: Fast
Time: :23⁴  :47¹  1:11   1:42

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 1 – 3 Paid 10.10, 3 – 1 Paid 13.40
$1 Trifecta: 1 – 3 – 5 Paid 696.30, 3 – 1 – 5 Paid 696.30

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES