Zo Impressive pulled off a 10-1 upset this afternoon in the $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park, holding off a stretch bid from Disposablepleasure to win the 56th running of the prestigious event by three-quarters of a length.
Ridden to victory by Rajiv Maragh, Zo Impressive broke alertly and quickly settled into the third position early on in the field of five, roughly two lengths behind pace-setting favorite Contested. Wildcat's Smile was right behind in second, followed by Believe You Can toward the inside in third. Disposablepleasure was content to trail the field early, but she was never more than four or five lengths off the lead.
Through fractions of :23.08, :46.47, and 1:11.28, Contested and Wildcat's Smile continued to lead the way, but rounding the far turn Zo Impressive moved up with a strong bid to challenge for the lead. Disposablepleasure, too, was putting in a run. Surprisingly, Contested could find no more entering the homestretch, giving way suddenly and dropping out of contention. Believe You Can also failed to mount a challenge.
So the race came down to Zo Impressive and Disposablepleasure, who put on quite the show in the homestretch, battling gamely for the top spot. In early stretch, it appeared as though Disposablepleasure was going to secure the victory, but Zo Impressive courageously held her off to win the race in good fashion, stopping the clock in 1:44.28.
Believe You Can finished third, followed by Wildcat's Smile and Contested. The winner is owned by Live Oak Plantation and trained by Thomas Albertrani.
-Keelerman
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