Octave hits a winning note in Mother Goose

Donald J. Lucarelli and Starlight Stables' OCTAVE (Unbridled's Song) was

content to run just behind and to the outside of the pacesetting Bold Assurance

(Stormy Atlantic) in Saturday's $237,500

Mother

Goose S. (G1) at Belmont Park, steadily picked up the pace rounding the turn

and held a game Lady Joanne (Orientate) to score by a half-length under John

Velazquez.

"She ran really good," Velazquez said. "For a four-horse field, it was a

solid field. I knew I was going to have to be right with (Lady Joanne) and I was

hoping my horse would have enough left, which she did. I didn't want to be too

far behind (Lady Joanne) to make sure I was going to put pressure on her and it

worked out good for me."

Bold Assurance quickly moved to the front when the gates opened on the

nine-furlong test, setting splits of :23 2/5 and :46 1/5, all the while tracked

by Lady Joanne and Octave to her outside. Lady Joanne got the jump on her rivals

entering the turn, accelerating to grab the advantage through six furlongs in

1:09 4/5, but Octave and Velazquez would not be denied. Catching the Carl

Nafzger-trained Lady Joanne at the head of the lane, Octave was forced to dig in

late to hold her game opponent, who re-rallied along the inside under Calvin

Borel.

"She ran a hell of a race," Borel said of the runner-up. "I can't fault her.

We figured (Bold Assurance) would get the lead and we'd sit right behind her.

When we turned for home, (Velazquez) opened up a good length and a half, but my

horse kept digging in and came back to her, but I can't fault her. She ran a

good race and she'll step up to the plate next time."

Octave stopped the clock in 1:47 over the fast dirt, paying $3.20 and $2.10

as the 3-5 favorite. Lady Joanne was worth $2.60 as the 9-5 second choice,

ending the $5.80 exacta (1-3). Boca Grande (A.P. Indy), who raced in last for

much of the event, was easily third best, while Bold Assurance faded to finish a

well-beaten last.

Octave adds a second stakes score with this one, having captured last year's

Adirondack Breeders' Cup S. (G2). She also ran second in the Breeders' Cup

Juvenile Fillies (G1), Matron S. (G1) and Astoria S. as a two-year-old, and

continued that trend when making her sophomore bow in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2)

in March. Runner-up finishes in the Ashland S. (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1)

followed, and the Todd Pletcher trainee continued the trend of Kentucky Oaks

runners exiting that race to win next out. Octave moved her record to 9-3-6-0

and joins the millionaires' club, having now earned $1,047,934.

Bred in Kentucky by Mr. & Mrs. Martin J. Wygod, Octave is out of stakes

winner and Grade 3-placed Belle Nuit (Dr. Carter), who is also the dam of Grade

2 victress Belle Cherie (Belong to Me), stakes heroine Be Mine Tonight (Belong

to Me) and multiple stakes-placed Unbridled Behavior (Unbridled's Song). Octave

was purchased for $350,000 as a Keeneland September yearling.