The $250,000 Mother Goose Stakes (G1) is the middle leg of the New York Triple Tiara, which started with the Acorn and closes with the Coaching Club American Oaks. Just six 3-year-old fillies went 1 1/16 miles on Saturday afternoon over the Belmont Park main track under sunny skies before the 6,827 fans in attendance, with Fantasy Stakes (G2) winner Joyful Victory sent off as the 4-5 favorite off her 4th place effort in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). In to challenge her included 7-2 second choice Buster's Ready, second in the Black-Eyed Susan (G2) at Pimlico last out, and 15-4 third choice Salty Strike, winner of the Dogwood (G3).
Salty Strike battled for the early lead with Buster's Ready exiting the chute and down the backstretch through fractions of 23.55 and 47.03, while being stalked by 26-1 longest shot R Gypsy Gold in third. Salty Strike continued to lead through 3/4 in 1:11.52 but soon tired, allowing Buster's Ready to inherit a 1 1/2 length lead in mid-stretch. Joyful Victory, 4th early, put in a late rally but Buster's Ready was long gone, drawing off through the final furlong to win by 4 1/4 lengths in 1:42.44 over the fast track. It was just a neck back to R Gypsy Gold third.
