‘Betty’ Looks for Set Up in Mother Goose
Updated: July 6, 2015 at 2:35 pm
Brereton Jones and Timothy Thornton’s Include Betty (Include) figures to come with her usual late burst of speed in Saturday’s GI Mother Goose S. at Belmont, but as is usually the case with her, it’ll be a question of whether or not she has left herself with too much to do. The Tom Proctor trainee closed from another zip code to blow up the tote in Tampa’s Suncoast S. Jan. 31, but could only manage fifth trying grass in the GIII Florida Oaks Mar. 7. Switched back to the main track for Oaklawn’s GIII Fantasy S. Apr. 4, the chestnut blew by every one of her foes to post another 18-1 upset and add to her lifetime ROI. She endured a no-hope trip when eighth behind fellow Jones colorbearer Lovely Maria (Majesticperfection) in the May 1 GI Kentucky Oaks, but did very well last time to be second in Pimlico’s May 15 GII Black-Eyed Susan S. after trailing the field behind a dawdling pace set by winner Keen Pauline (Pulpit).
Among several up-and-coming types signed on for this historically significant race are Alex and JoAnn Lieblong’s Embellish the Lace (Super Saver). Fifth sprinting at the Big A
Nov. 16, the $320,000 KEESEP yearling hit the bench after breaking her maiden by the length of the stretch over an extended mile at Parx Dec. 13. Her belated return to the races was even more impressive–she took a Pimlico optional claimer by 13 3/4 lengths going this distance June 4, earning the field’s best Beyer Speed Figure of 95.
Shadwell Stable’s Munasara (Bernardini), a daughter of 2007 GI Breeders’ Cup F/M Turf heroine Lahudood (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}), puts her unbeaten streak on the line here. Successfully unveiled at Gulfstream Mar. 15, she defeated subsequently impressive turn-back winner So You Say (Flatter) at a mile here May 10.
Treadway Racing Stable’s Wonder Gal (Tiz Wonderful) has been knocking on the door at the highest level, but has yet to break through. Second in the GI Frizette S. and third in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies last fall, the ‘TDN Rising Star’ settled for fourth in Aqueduct’s GII Gazelle S. in April before being given a breather. Let go at 16-1 for 2014 GI Acorn S.-winning trainer Leah Gyarmati, the dark bay came within a length of providing her owner and trainer with back-to-back wins in that event as she checked in a solid third.
“I thought she ran huge [in the Acorn],” said Gyarmati. “It was a really good ride. Maybe if she were outside, she may have had a shot to win. She got in a little tight in the stretch, and she’s a big horse, when she’s got some momentum she needs to keep going. She ran huge and tried really hard.”
The conditioner added, “I was back and forth whether or not I wanted to run her or wait for the [GI] Coaching Club American Oaks [at Saratoga], but she was doing so well and we’re here at home, so it seemed like a good spot to go ahead and run her. She hasn’t run much. She was off all that time then ran in the Gazelle, and then had another long break. She’s not over-raced.”
Todd Pletcher goes for his fifth Mother Goose title with StarLadies Racing’s Eskenformoney (Eskendereya). She was third in the Feb. 21 GII Davona Dale S. at Gulfstream Feb. 21 and second in the Mar. 28 GII Gulfstream Park Oaks, but checked in 10th after a rough start in the Kentucky Oaks.