Belmont Park Picks for Mother Goose Stakes

The Mother Goose will see the return to action of Lewis Bay (2-1 in the morning line) and Rachel's Valentina (9-5) who were both last seen battling it out in the Kentucly Oaks in early May, with Lewis Bay running third and Rachel's Valentina a disappointing sixth as the favorite. She had every chance to win there after stalking the pace through out and simply faded in the lane. She couldn't quite get to the winner in her start previous to that, either, but a small cut back in distance here could help her cause.

Second-favored always shows up to race

Lewis Bay, meanwhile ran well to hold third in the Oaks, the only time she's been out of the top two in her six-race career. She can rate just off the pace here, and will be a serious threat as they turn for home. The last of the big three in the Mother Goose is Off The Tracks (3-1) who finished second last out against a top-notch field in the Acorn Stakes on the Belmont Stakes undercard.

Of the others, Lightstream (5-1) was unraced as a juvenile and had this year won all three of her career starts, including a minor stake last out at Belmont, after capturing the (G3) Beaumont at Keeneland, where she was able to prevail into very quick fractions. This will be her first attempt at more than seven furlongs.

The 1 1/16 miles Mother Goose Stakes goes Saturday, July 2. Post time is 5:45 PM ET.

Entries w/ ML Odds

1) Linda Mimi (30-1)

2) Off The Tracks (3-1)

3) Mom's On Strike (20-1)

4) Mo d'Amour (12-1)

5) Lewis Bay (2-1)

6) Rachel's Valentina (9-5)

7) Lightstream (5-1)

OTB NY Picks

1) Lewis Bay

2) Off The Tracks

3) Rachel's Valentina

4) Lightstream