|
|
Dreaming of Julia faces four in Mother Goose
Heading the challengers is Close Hatches, second in the Grade 1 Acorn at Belmont last out following a seventh-place finish in the Kentucky Oaks. Unraced at two, the First Defence filly won her initial three starts, including the Gazelle at Aqueduct over Princess of Sylmar, for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. Joel Rosario will ride Close Hatches, who is the 7-2 second choice on the Mother Goose morning line, from post position 3. Trainer Tom Albertrani, who won last year's Mother Goose with Zo Impressive, returns Saturday with Toasting. The Florida-bred daughter of Congrats is 1-0-2 from three starts this year, including a third-place finish in the Black-Eyed Susan on May 17 at Pimlico when outfitted with blinkers. "She ran a good race (in the Black-Eyed Susan), she was a good third," said Albertrani, who sent Toasting out Wednesday morning for a four-furlong breeze in :49 4/5 over Belmont's fast main track. "It looked like the blinkers helped a little bit and put her a little closer into the race, and she seems to have bounced back OK." At 12-1 on the morning line, Toasting will leave from post position 4 with Luis Saez aboard. Marathon Lady will be shipping in as she seeks her first graded stakes score after a third and a pair of seconds, including a neck loss in the Black-Eyed Susan last out. "I think she's progressing and moving forward with each race," trainer Steve Hobby said of the Graeme Hall filly. "She's maturing all the time, and getting bigger and stronger. Of course, beating Dreaming of Julia is going to take some doing -- she'll probably have to beat herself -- but it's a Grade 1 race and a small field, so why not take a chance?" Robby Albarado will ride Marathon Lady, the 5-1 third choice on the morning line, from the rail. Completing the field is Sister State, who is 1-1-0 in four races this year. The A.P. Indy filly, who broke her maiden on May 3, will be making her first start on Lasix after finishing eighth by 22 1/4 lengths in an optional claimer most recently. "Her last race looks worse on paper than it actually was," trainer Kiaran McLaughlin stated. "We think she'll improve off that. We'd be over the moon to hit the board, and this is too good of an opportunity to pass up." Irad Ortiz Jr. was aboard for Sister State's maiden score and takes back the mount on the 20-1 morning-line longshot from post position 5. Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com
 Send this article to a friend
|
|
