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


