How to bet the 2023 Mother Goose Stakes

A total of seven sophomore fillies will run 1 1/8 miles on the Aqueduct dirt oval in Saturday’s $250,000 Mother Goose S. (G2). Grade 1 heroine #7 Defining Purpose draws outside in the field and seems poised for a big run while making her local debut. By Cross Traffic, the Ashland S. (G1) queen is not the most consistent filly in training, but she is very good on her best day, and the gray also has excuses for her last pair of outings. 

Mother Goose Wagers

• $10 exacta key box 7 with 3,4 ($40)
  $2 trifecta 7 with 3,4 with 3,4,5,6 ($12)

Defining Purpose was third after chasing a lone leader in the historic Alabama S. (G1) at Saratoga two starts back, which preceded an unplaced showing over a sloppy, sealed surface in the Cotillion S. (G1) at Parx in her most recent endeavor. The Kentucky-bred sophomore has tactical speed in a field lacking an abundance of pace and figures to track from the second flight while in the clear throughout the affair. Junior Alvarado will be in the irons. 

Todd Pletcher’s #3 Julia Shining was ambitiously entered in the Alabama S. (G1) off of a long absence and failed to fire most recently, but this spot seems much more reasonable for the well-bred daughter of Curlin. A winner of the Demoiselle S. (G2) on the course in December, the Stonestreet homebred has obvious talent and has also been training in smart fashion leading up to Saturday. If the filly keeps touch with the leaders early on, then I expect her to be a menacing figure in the stretch with Javier Castellano in the controls. 

Of the trio of Chad Brown trainees in the field, #4 Undervalued Asset has the most appeal to me at a nice price. The bay daughter of Speightstown will travel two turns for the initial time in her career and I expect her to appreciate the voyage. The Klaravich color bearer has gate presence and is bred to handle the distance with Manny Franco taking the reins. 

Acorn S. (G1) and Cotillion S. (G1) third #5 Occult, and recent stakes romper #6 Xigera, will also be included in my vertical plays.