June 27, 2009
The $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes (G1) features top 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/8 miles on the Belmont Park main track, and is the middle leg of the New York Triple Tiara, between the Acorn and the Coaching Club American Oaks. Only three faced the starter on Saturday afternoon, but the eyes of the racing world were on Kentucky Oaks and Preakness Stakes winner Rachel Alexandra, bet down to 1-20 odds. Officially, 13,352 were on hand on a warm sunny afternoon, but this number was artificially inflated by two promotions, free admission for female fans and a Rachel Alexandra bracelet giveaway. In to challenge the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro were 6-1 second choice Flashing, winner of three straight going in including the Nassau County last out, and 11-1 Malibu Prayer, an allowance winner last out and making her stakes debut.
Exiting the chute, virtually two races took place, an all-out sprint match race between Malibu Prayer and Flashing, who got ridiculous fractions of 22.57, 44.66, and 1:08.86, and a public workout for Rachel Alexandra, who sat well off the rail 3 lengths behind the suicidal pace under regular rider Calvin Borel. With 3f to go, the pacesetters were spent, and Borel tapped Rachel Alexandra. She ran through the gap between the tiring pacesetters, and opened up an 8 length lead in mid stretch through 1 mile in 1:33.60. Without further urging, Rachel Alexandra cruised to a 19 1/4 length victory over Malibu Prayer in a new stakes record time of 1:46.33, just 0.93 seconds off Secretariat's track record. It was another 12 1/4 lengths back to Flashing third. As well, the margin of victory was also a stakes record, eclipsing the previous record of 13 1/2 lengths set by Ruffian in 1975.
Results chart from DRF
