2006 Suburban Handicap and Mother Goose Stakes

Kicking off the stakes action on Independence Day weekend at Belmont Park was the $250,000 Mother Goose Stakes (G1), the second leg of the New York Triple Tiara. Acorn winner and 3-1 second choice Bushfire stalked the early pace of Teammate through 3/4 in 1:11.11, then took over the lead mid-stretch and held off the late-running Pine Island to win by 3/4 length in a time of 1:49.86 for the 9 furlong trip. It was 1/2 a length back to 7-2 Ready to Please in third. Pacesetter Teammate faded to fifth. Despite winning the first two legs of the Tiara, trainer Eddie Kenneally might skip the Coaching Club American Oaks, preferring to give Bushfire a rest until Saratoga.
Results chart from DRF