Short field for Mother Goose
ELMONT, N.Y. - It appears as though there will be only three challengers for Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra in Saturday's Grade 1 Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park. Justwhistledixie will not be among them.
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin confirmed Monday that the multiple graded stakes winner Justwhistledixie would skip the Mother Goose and be pointed to the Grade 1 Test Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 8. The Test is run at seven furlongs. Justwhistledixie, who scratched out of the Kentucky Oaks the afternoon of the race due to a bruised foot, had a five-race winning streak snapped when she finished second as the 4-5 favorite in the Acorn on June 7.
"It's a little quick back for her, and we're trying to pick the ideal spot for her," McLaughlin said. "August 8th, Grade 1 Test should set up perfect for a come-from-behind sprinter."
Prior to the Acorn, Justwhistledixie had won the Davona Dale and Bonnie Miss - both Grade 2 stakes at Gulfstream Park.
McLaughlin had three other fillies nominated to the Mother Goose, but said none is up for the challenge of taking on Rachel Alexandra, who has won five consecutive races.
Those expected to be entered against Rachel Alexandra on Wednesday, when post positions are drawn, are Flashing, winner of the Grade 3 Nassau County; Don't Forget Gil, winner of the Grade 3 Florida Oaks; and Malibu Prayer, who has won her last two starts by a combined 20 1/4 lengths - the exact margin of Rachel Alexandra's Kentucky Oaks victory.
On Monday at Churchill Downs, Rachel Alexandra completed preparations for the Mother Goose, a one-turn race run at nine furlongs, when she worked four furlongs in 49.80 seconds over a fast main track. Exercise rider Dominic Terry was up for the move, which Churchill clockers timed in fractions of 13 seconds, 25, and 37.40. She galloped out five furlongs in 1:03.40. Calvin Borel will ride Rachel Alexandra for the seventh consecutive time in the Mother Goose.
"The filly went beautiful this morning," trainer Steve Asmussen said. "She looked very happy."
Rachel Alexandra was expected to arrive at Belmont Park late Tuesday afternoon after a flight from Kentucky.
On Saturday, Flashing worked five furlongs in 59.55 seconds over Belmont's main track, while Malibu Prayer covered the same distance in 1:00.80.
