Believe You Can – the clear favourite for the Mother Goose Stakes
The Grade 1, $1 million Kentucky Oaks winner, Believe You Can, will be seen in action on 23 June, 2012, when she takes on a slim field of 4 other 3-year-old fillies in the Grade 1, $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park’s main track over a distance
of 1 1/16 miles.
The Mother Goose Stakes has drawn in a small field, but it is quality over quantity, and since trainer Todd Pletcher pulled the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks runner-up, Broadway’s Alibi, from the race, the 3-year-old filly will not be there for a rematch.
However, there is a significant threat to Believe You Can’s chances even though Broadway’s Alibi is out of it, and it comes from Bob Baffert, who is entering his rampant 3-year-old filly, Contested.
The Brereton C. Jones homebred, Believe You Can has been preparing well for the Mother Goose, as she turned in a sharp five furlong work in 59.77 seconds at Belmont Park on 18 June, 2012.
Under her regular jockey, Rosie Napravnik, the filly registered the second fastest against fifteen works over the same distance for trainer Larry Jones.
“She worked well the other day, Rosie was happy with her, and this morning she was feeling really good,” Jones said. “She’s put on weight since the Oaks and I’m very, very pleased with the way she’s continued to grow.”
The 3-year-old Proud Citizen filly posted a hat-trick as a juvenile, including victory in the Grade 3 Tempted Stakes at 6 furlongs at Belmont Park.
She started off the 2012 season with a win in the Silverbulletday at Fair Grounds Race Course over a distance of 1 mile and 70 yards, but failed in her second start when she finished fourth to winner, Summer Applause in the Grade 3 Rachel Alexandra.
Out of El Prado mare El Fasto, Believe You Can exited the Fair Grounds meet winning the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks , and then off to Churchill Downs where she won the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks.
Believe You Can will break from post number 1, Contested from post number 2, and Disposablepleasure will represent Todd Pletcher and will break from post number 3. All fillies will carry 121 pounds.
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