From the ArcaMax Publishing, Sports Update Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/sports/s-370786-628475
Saturday's $250,000 Mother Goose Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at
Belmont Park was an odd affair. First, only four faced the starter.
Then, three of the four, including odds-on favorite and Kentucky Oaks
winner Proud Spell, stumbled badly out of the gate, causing traffic
problems despite the compact field. Then, when Proud Spell tried to
make a move, she again had traffic issues. Finally, after finishing
second behind Music Note, Proud Spell was disqualified to third for
veering out sharply in the stretch. Music Note completed the 9
furlongs in 1:49.75 on a fast track under Javier Castellano. "I had a
beautiful trip, even though she stumbled at the start," Castellano
said. "I tried to position myself. I did not want to be on the lead
She galloped out good and I don't think she will have a problem going
farther." Music Note is owned by Godolphin Racing and trained by Saeed
bin Surror. Proud Spell's owner, Larry Jones, was philosophical. "From
the beginning, it didn't look like it was going to be our day," he
said. "When we needed somewhere to go, we had nowhere to go. And when
it was time to go, we weren't going."
Other races potentially impacting the Distaff Division:
-- Nicki Knew rallied from last of seven to win Sunday's $350,000
(Canadian) Bison City Stakes for 3-year-old, Ontario-bred fillies at
Woodbine. The Daughter of GTethra, under James McAlenney, came
five-wide into the stretch and drew clear late, winning by 1 1/4
lengths over Authenticat. Victory Romance finished third. Nicki Knew,
trained by Kevin Attard, got the 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather track
in 1:44.82.
-- Storm Mesa, the even-money favorite, led all the way to a 1-length
victory in Friday's $200,000 Iowa Oaks at Prairie Meadows. Sky Mom
made a late run to finish second, 1 length ahead of Alina. Storm Mesa,
a Kentucky-bred filly by Sky Mesa, got the 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.89
with Eddie Martin Jr. up. Storm Mesa now has won four straight races
at three different tracks for trainer Bret Calhoun.
-- Fancy Fusaichi came three-wide into the stretch in Saturday night's
$125,000 Iowa Distaff Stakes at Prairie Meadows, opened up and won off
by 8 3/4 lengths over Miss Atlantic. The odds-on favorite, Rolling
Sea, finished third, unable to compete in the final furlong after a
stalking trip. Fancy Fusaichi, a 4-year-old, Kentucky-bred daughter of
Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus out of the Rahy mare Fancy
Clancy, ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:42.91 with Julien
Leparoux in the irons for trainer Bill Mott. George Steinbrenner owns
the winner.