Grade 1 queen Dreaming of Julia will make her first try since a troubled fourth in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) when leading the field in Saturday’s $300,000 Mother Goose S. (G1) at Belmont Park. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the sophomore daughter of A.P. Indy was a superb, 21 ¼-length winner of the Gulfstream Oaks (G2) two back and has done very well on this oval, with a Grade 1 score from her perfect 2-for-2 mark. The standout lass has trained especially well in advance of this and looms a giant threat.
Gazelle S. (G2) queen Close Hatches rallied for a good second in the recent Acorn S. (G1) and is obviously the top possible upsetter in the field for trainer Bill Mott. The Juddmonte homebred has good speed and is more than capable when she fires her best shot. Also likely for this contest are Grade 1-placed Toasting, Acorn (G1) fourth Cue the Moon, Marathon Lady, who fell a jump short in the Black-Eyed Susan S. (G2) last time, dynamic maiden winner Carnival Court and recent maiden heroine Plenty O’Toole.
The Sunday feature at Belmont Park is the $90,000 Open Mind S., for fillies and mares on the main oval.