A field of seven were entered although the Mark Casse trained Gio Game (6-1) likely will scratch. Casse also sends out the undefeated Road to Victory (5-2).
Midnight Bisou is the 8-5 morning line favorite and suffered her first defeat this year in a third-place finish in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). She was transferred to Asmussen from the Bill Spawr barn and retains her regular rider Mike Smith.
She reeled off three straight at Santa Anita including the Santa Anita Oaks (G1) on April 7.
Trainer Todd Pletcher, who has won the Mother Goose five times including in 2016 with Off the Tracks sends out the undefeated Mo Smart (8-1), who makes her stakes debut after breaking her maiden by 7 ½ lengths and then beating first level optional claimers by 13 lengths in the mud. David Cohen has the ride.
My Miss Lilly (5-1) was badly outrun in the Kentucky Oaks, an 11th place finish while beaten 21 lengths. She won the Gazelle (G2) at Aqueduct going nine furlongs in her previous outing. She breaks from the outside with Flavien Prat in the irons.
Completing the field are the runner up and third place finishers from the Black Eyed Susan (G3) at Pimlico, Coach Rocks (6-1) and Indy Union (20-1).
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Let’s head out to Belmont Park for Saturday’s featured race of the day:
Belmont Park Race 8 The Mother Goose G2 Post time 5:18 ET
2 Midnight Bisou 8-5
3 Mo Smart 8-1
6 Road to Victory 5-2
7 My Miss Lilly 5-1
Midnight Bisou had a three-race winning streak snapped when she was the beaten favorite in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs in her last outing. She was outrun early and came with a seven wide run to finish third. The winner Monomoy Girl came back to win the Acorn (G1) here on June 9. The runner up Wonder Gadot came back to miss winning the Woodbine Oaks by a neck and goes against the boys in the Queen’s Plate this afternoon at Woodbine.
Our top pick reeled off three straight at Santa Anita including an impressive victory in the Santa Anita Oaks (G1). She showed three and four back she can be closer to the pace and likely will need to be as there is not a ton of early speed in here. She makes her first start for the Asmussen barn that is 22% winners with newcomers to the barn.
Mo Smart has not been tested in her two starts, winning by a combined 20 ½ lengths. She broke her maiden going seven furlongs in her debut at Gulfstream Park by 7 ½ lengths. The runner up Ox Eyed Daisy came back to graduate in her next outing on March 29 with a 70 Beyer and then was outrun versus Alw-1 optional claimers at Churchill Downs in her latest.
In her second start our second choice beat Alw-1 optional claimers at Pimlico in the mud by 13 lengths. The runner up Maya Malibu beat Alw-1 optional claimers in her next start and last year she ran second in the Spinaway (G1) and third in the Frizette (G1). The fourth-place finisher Lady by Choice also won next out, beating $40,000 starter optional claimers by 15 ½ lengths with an 88 Beyer. The Pletcher trainee was a $150,000 purchase by Uncle Mo and the first foal to race out of a Smart Strike mare. She looks as if she still has some upside.
Road to Victory is perfect in three starts, winning the Alywow going 6 ½ furlongs on turf at Woodbine off the shelf. The filly broke her maiden in her debut and then won the Golden Rod (G2) over Monomoy Girl in her first start against winners but suffered an ankle injury forcing her to the sidelines.
Monomoy Girl has won four in a row including three Grade 1 races in a row—the Ashland, Kentucky Oaks, and Acorn. By Quality Road out of a Tiznow mare, dirt likely is her better surface. She popped a bullet work over the main track here on June 22.
Wagering
WIN: #2 to win at 7-5 or better.
EXACTA: 2,3 / 2,3,6
TRIFECTA: 2,3 / 2,3,6 / 2,3,6,7
