The 18-1 long shot Zaajel was the winner of the $250,000, Grade 2 Mother Goose at Belmont Park on Saturday. The Shadwell Stables filly upset the unbeaten 4-5 favorite Always Carina, who finished second in her first try in a stakes race.
For most of the early going, Zaajel sat just outside of Always Carina about a length behind the pacesetter. The early pace was moderate and the favorite looked quite comfortable going 24.03, 48.03, and 1:12.44 for the first three fractions.
Jockey Joel Rosario, who was riding Zaajel for the first time, asked his filly to challenge the leader at the top of the stretch. Those two dueled briefly, but the Shadwell Stables filly was able to draw away to win by a 1 1/4-length margin at the wire.
Mother Goose Stakes (G2)
— WR1 (@WorldRacing1) June 26, 2021
1700m , 250.000 USD, for 3yo mares
🇺🇸Belmont Park
Zaajel (USA)
(Street Sense – Asiya, by Daaher)
J: Joel Rosario
T : Todd A. Pletcher
O : Shadwell Stable pic.twitter.com/YgiFlJCrNQ
Rosario looked confident on the daughter of Street Sense throughout the race.
“She ran really big today. She was very comfortable and happy,” Rosario said. “I knew the horse on the lead (Always Carina) was the horse to beat, and she did it. She ran a big race today. She was moving very well for me.”
Zaajel began her career in Florida, winning her first two races at Gulfstream Park during the winter for trainer Todd Pletcher. After those seven-furlong victories, she was sixth in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) and then was last in the Edgewood (G2) on the grass at Churchill.
This was the sixth Mother Goose winner for Pletcher, who was not in attendance at Belmont Park, and it came on the 54th birthday of the Hall of Famer. Shortly after the Mother Goose, at Churchill Downs, Pletcher enjoyed another birthday gift when Double Thunder took the Bashford Manor (G3).
Pletcher’s assistant Byron Hughes expected an improved effort.
“She had been training well and got back to one turn. We knew it was going to be a short field, and she ran well.”
Always Carina’s regular, ride Jose Ortiz, was riding at Churchill Downs, so Flavien Prat flew from California to take the mount on the Chad Brown runner.
“My horse was traveling well, and she accelerated nicely,” Prat said. “She just got beat by a filly who had more experience. I didn’t have any issues. She dug in well.”
The final time for the winner was 1:42.83. As the longest price in the field of five, Zaajel paid $38.80 to win.
