Dunbar Road paves a way in flashy Mother Goose Stakes win
Due to an impending thunder storm, the field headed postward about six minutes early for Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park. But Dunbar Road didn’t seem to be in too much of a hurry.
The odds-on favorite in a field of six, she bided her time, dropping back to last for a moment during the far turn, before unleashing a strong — and winning kick — in the lane.
"She was traveling comfortably and I felt like she was always there for me," jockey Jose Ortiz said after a 2 1/2-length victory. "When she got out of there, I was close to them and I just liked that she showed a good turn of foot. This will set her up for later."
A score by the daughter of Quality Road only gives trainer Chad Brown and Ortiz another 3-year-old filly to watch as the purses grow and distances lengthen next month at Saratoga. On Belmont Stakes week, the Brown-trained, Ortiz-ridden Guarana was a breakout winner of the Acorn (G1).
Dunbar Road, who’s campaigned by Peter Brant, broke well in the Mother Goose but found herself between horses and off a dawdling pace of 49.13 seconds for Classic Fit’s opening half mile in the one-turn feature.
That didn’t dull Dunbar Road’s kick. She tipped out in the stretch, making room with a rally past Classic Fit and to a final time of 1:43.52 for 1 1/16 miles. Grade 2 winner Jeltrin rounded out the board.
"I hope she'll be in the thick of things," Brant said looking ahead. "She looks like a two-turn horse. We'll run where she needs to run. I personally feel rewarded for having a little patience having missed out on not getting into the field for the Kentucky Oaks.
"I know Chad really wanted to go in that race and wherever he wanted to go is fine with me, but when she didn't get in I wanted to come back to New York."
Dunbar Road has now won three of four starts, with her only defeat at second asking in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2). She missed the body of the Kentucky Oaks field on qualifying points before prepping for the Mother Goose in a local allowance race.
"With her being a young horse, she needs to get something out of it," Ortiz said, "and today was a perfect day because it was an easy race for her. I knew with the amount of horse that I had, I was going to find something to work with."