June 23, 2012
The $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes (G1) features top 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles around one turn of the Belmont Park main track. Just five fillies went to post on Saturday afternoon under sunny skies before the 6,490 fans in attendance, with Contested as the 1-2 favorite off a 4 race winning streak including the Eight Belles (G3) and the Acorn (G1). In to challenge her included Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) and Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Believe You Can at 5-2, and 6-1 third choice Zo Impressive, second in both the Acorn (G1) and the Gulfstream Oaks (G2).
Jockey Javier Castellano sent Contested to the lead exiting the chute and she set a fast pace of 23.08, 46.47, and 1:11.28 over the good track while 1 1/2 lengths in front of 35-1 longest shot Wildcat's Smile stalking her second. Entering the stretch, she inexplicably tired as Zo Impressive, third early, moved up to take the lead. 10-1 Disposablepleasure, last early, gained early in the stretch, and after some bumping, Zo Impressive fought her off to win by 3/4 length in 1:44.28. It was a long 8 1/2 lengths back to Believe You Can third, while Contested finished last, beaten 14 3/4 lengths. Ramon Dominguez aboard Disposablepleasure claimed foul against Rajiv Maragh aboard Zo Impressive for interference but the claim was disallowed by the stewards.
