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The $250,000, Grade 2 Mom Goose Stakes Saturday at Belmont on the Massive A (Aqueduct) encompasses a compact discipline of seven 3-year-old fillies, together with 5 stakes winners.
Defining Function needs to be listed first amongst that quintet as she received the Grade 1 Central Financial institution Ashland Stakes this previous April in addition to the Grade 3 Indiana Oaks in July, though since then she completed a non-threating third in August after which fifth in September. Foggy Night time received the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks in July and the Cathryn Sophia Stakes in August earlier than a poor sixth-place effort final month within the Grade 1 Cotillion Stakes. Occult received the Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks close to the top of July and wasn’t disgraced in her most up-to-date race when third within the Cotillion in September. Then there’s Xigera, who though winless in three graded stakes tries, received each the listed Tepin Stakes in July in addition to the Seneca In a single day Stakes final month. Undervalued Asset confirmed she belonged on the degree when second within the Grade 3 Charles City Oaks in August however then was a non-threatening fifth within the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom Stakes at this Belmont on the Massive A meet 4 weeks in the past. Julia Shining received the Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct final December and ran effectively when third within the Ashland this spring however most not too long ago was ninth of 10 within the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes Offered by Keeneland Gross sales. Peak Reputation rounds out the sphere, operating in a stakes race for the primary time and bringing a 1-for-5 profession document into the race.
Predominant win contenders:
Xigera began her profession on the grass final summer time and ran very effectively, first by posting a runner-up effort after which a robust win by practically six lengths. Transferring to grime for the primary time final fall, Xigera ran within the Darley Alcibiades Stakes, however after urgent the pacesetter in second for a lot of the race, she pale to fourth within the last sixteenth of a mile (moved to 3rd through DQ). After ending final of 14 when again on turf for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, Xigera was given seven months off and returned stronger, first profitable at a mile on grass after which profitable the Tepin Stakes after stalking the pacesetter in second. After a poor effort within the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational with an ideal excuse (mushy turf), Xigera moved again to grime for the Seneca Stakes on grime. That was by far a career-best effort the place she earned a 102 Equibase Velocity Determine. Within the Seneca, she stalked the pacesetter in second for the primary seven furlongs after which moved rapidly to guide by three lengths within the stretch earlier than extending that margin to six ¼ lengths. Within the race chart, Xigera was reported to cross the wire “below wraps,” suggesting she may run even higher on this race, her subsequent begin. Earlier than leaving coach Phil Bauer’s base in Kentucky, Xigera put in a robust exercise on Oct. 13 which was the most effective of 27 on the day, and he or she additionally brings alongside jockey Julian Leparoux, who has ridden the filly to all 4 of her wins so far. Contemplating she has the power to stalk the early chief, or to set the tempo if no different filly orse goes to the entrance from the beginning, Xigera is the one to beat on this yr’s Mom Goose Stakes.
Julia Shining demonstrated a whole lot of expertise final fall within the first two begins of her profession, first profitable a seven-furlong race after which in solely the second begin of her profession stretching out to the 1 1/8-mile distance of the Mom Goose to win the essential Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct. After a couple of months off, Julia Shining started her run for the Longines Kentucky Oaks with a third-place effort within the Suncoast Stakes this winter after which was solely crushed three-quarters of a size within the Ashland Stakes (by Defining Function), incomes a career-best 99 determine within the course of. Nevertheless, Julia Shining didn’t have the required factors to enter the beginning gate for the Oaks so she took a while off. Returning to race in August, Julia Shining ran within the 1 ¼-mile Alabama Stakes however completed ninth of 10 and by no means threatened. Now she’s again on the monitor and distance of her Demoiselle victory and he or she’s already proven she belongs at this degree. Julia Shining may very well be a robust contender if she repeats any of her 4 efforts earlier to the Alabama.
Occult started to indicate a whole lot of promise when profitable by 4 ¼ lengths in her first route race final December after which following that up with a win within the Busanda Stakes in January at Aqueduct on the distance of the Mom Goose. She returned within the Gazelle Stakes three months later however solely managed fifth, after which after a two-month relaxation she completed third within the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes Offered by Nice Jones Distilling Co. Her second begin off the layoff was considerably higher, as Occult received the Monmouth Oaks by 10 ¼ lengths with a 99 determine. Transferring up in school to the Cotillion Stakes in September, Occult discovered herself final of 9 after a half-mile had been run over a sloppy monitor, and though she valiantly rallied she solely managed to complete third on the finish. The 97 determine was fairly good contemplating the monitor circumstances and, like Julia Shining, Occult will likely be returning to the monitor and distance the place she has a stakes win beforehand. That would assist her return to high type, and profitable this yr’s Mom Goose Stakes appears inside her attain.
The remainder of the sphere, with their greatest Equibase Velocity Figures, is Defining Function (100), Foggy Night time (97), Peak Reputation (89) and Undervalued Asset (98).
Win Contenders, in desire order:
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