Head to Head: Competitive Mother Goose is up for grabs

LAURIE

ASHLEY

1. Being Myself

Being Myself is lightly raced with three starts under her girth, but she has improved each time. Curlin’s daughter bested 11 other allowance runners at Churchill by an impressive four lengths under a hand ride in her first start around two turns. The Cherie DeVaux trainee completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.15 with a 6.19 final half-furlong. That was good enough for a 90 Brisnet rating, and her 99 late-pace figure is the field’s third highest. Being Myself’s dam is half to Honorable Duty, a multiple graded winner at 1 1/8 miles. The filly’s third dam is the incomparable rene de course Toussaud, dam of Empire Maker, Chester House, Chiselling, Decharchy and Grade 1 heroine and multiple black-type producer Honest Lady. Exotics.

Trained by Cherie DeVaux, Being Myself debuted in September 2024 and was then shelved. Grade 2 winner and Grade 1 placed Muhimma won that first race. Three additional eventual winners and one stakes performer also exited that race. Being Myself returned in August at Ellis Park and won a mile maiden event by a determined neck. She followed up with a four-length triumph in a 1 1/16-mile  allowance race at Churchill Downs. She defeated a trio of older fillies in her two starts this year. The Ellis Park race produced two other next-out winners, and the Churchill Downs race included two stakes-placed fillies who finished 10th and 11th in the 12-horse field. Being Myself’s Brisnet speed Ratings have improved with each start, and she received a 90 for her most recent race. DeVaux is 21% wins with a 58% in-the-money rate with runners third off the layoff and is 13% wins with a 45% in-the-money clip in graded stakes in the last year. John Velazquez, who will be the filly’s fourth rider in as many starts, has the call. Exotics.

2. Queen Azteca

U.A.E. Oaks (G3) heroine Queen Azteca didn’t fare well in the Alabama (G1) in her U.S. debut. She bumped at the break and was outrun, checking in fifth, 13 lengths behind Nitrogen. Now conditioned by Rodolphe Brisset, Queen Azteca has put in training miles at Keeneland. She completed a second-to-last bullet 1:00.80 five-furlong move in company with the older multiple graded-winning mare Royal Spa. Queen Azteca began in front on the inside. Royal Spa joined her around the turn, and the pair were gently pushed through the wire with Royal Spa getting the better of her mate. Not impressed. Although Queen Azteca is dropping in class, she’s still a Hard pass.

Now in the care of Rodolphe Brisset, Queen Azteca will make her first start since being privately acquired by Team Valor International in July. She has one previous start in the U.S., a well-beaten fifth-place effort in the Alabama (G1). I didn’t like her in that spot because I felt the competition was too stiff. This appears to be a better spot for her, but Brisset is just 15% wins with a 27% in-the-money rate with runners new to his barn after a trainer switch. Jose Lezcano replaces Joel Rosario. Pass

3. Lemon Zest

Lemon Zest looked good outclassing maidens and allowance types in Kentucky. Then the Brad Cox trainee shipped to Remington for her two-turn debut in the Remington Park Oaks. She was pressed on the lead by So There She Was until the top of the stretch. Then Lemon Zest ran out of juice, unable to keep up. She lost the photo for second, beaten by 2 3/4 lengths. It wasn’t a bad effort for Nyquist’s daughter, as she shipped, stretched out and took a step up in class. But Lemon Zest’s speed ratings are in the high 80s, and her late-pace numbers have decreased in her last three starts. She’ll need to improve while facing other speed types. Pass.

Trained by Brad Cox, Lemon Zest debuted in May, finishing sixth, beaten by 12 lengths, in a six-furlong event. She won at second asking then strung together another victory, both in one-mile events. She most recently was second in the Remington Park Oaks, beaten 2 3/4 lengths by So There She Was. Lemon Zest’s debut race produced three next-out winners, her second race produced two next-out winners and another eventual winner, and she beat Remington Park Oaks third-place finisher Seraphina in her third start. The Remington Park Oaks itself included Grade 1-placed So There She Was, Grade 2-placed Runnin N Gunnin, and stake- placed Legal Empress and Ima Margarita Girl. She earned a 97 Brisnet Speed Rating in her second race, but that dropped to an 86 in both of her next races. Flavien Prat takes over from Luis Saez. Pass.

4. Ourdaydreaminggirl

In her last two starts, Ourdaydreaminggirl has stepped up in class and distance, seeking her first stakes victory. She was a hard-charging third, just missing the Cotillion (G1) photo to Clicquot for the win and Dry Powder for second, hinting that 1 1/8 miles might not be just a dream. Finishing behind  Ourdaydreaminggirl was CCA Oaks (G1) victress Scottish Lassie, Acorn (G1) winner La Cara, Kentucky Oaks (G1) heroine Good Cheer and multiple stakes winner Indy Bay. The Louis Linder Jr. trainee’s Brisnet ratings are improving, and her triple-digit late pace figures are the field’s highest. She’ll have pace to set up her run if her jock can keep her closer to the pace and save ground early. Contender.

Trained by Louis Linder Jr., Ourdaydreaminggirl missed the biggest win of her career thus far by a neck last out in the Cotillion (G1). She also was second in the Cathryn Sophia Stakes and the Ruthless Stakes this year. Her Brisnet Speed Ratings have improved over the course of her last four starts, culminating with a 98 in the Cotillion. Linder is 0% wins with a 31% in-the-money rate in graded stakes in the last five years. He’s never won a graded stakes, but Ourdaydreaminggirl’s near miss is probably the closest he’s come to victory in a graded event. But as Laurie said, this filly absolutely held her own against some of the best in the division, and Cotillion winner Clicquot was most recently fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Regular jockey Eliseo Ruiz, who has never won a graded stakes but has a 33% in-the-money rate in graded stakes over the last five years, has the return call. Contender.

5. Filly Freedom

Filly Freedom escaped the maiden ranks by 8 1/4 lengths in her third start and first at a mile. She tailgated the pacesetter, tipped out at the top of the stretch and powered home under a hand ride. The Chad Brown trainee stopped the clock at 1:35.79 with a 12.84 final furlong. By Constitution out of Grade 1-placed Zapperkat (Ghostzapper), Filly Freedom should love the extra distance. But her Brisnet ratings are slowly climbing out of the 80s, and she’ll need to improve further in her first start against winners while stretching out. Exotics.

Trained by Chad Brown, Filly Freedom found the winner’s circle in her third start after playing the bridesmaid in her first two starts. Ragtime, the winner of Filly Freedom’s first start, was second by a neck in the Test (G1), won the Dogwood (G3), and was third by a half-length in the Raven Run (G2). She broke her maiden over the Aqueduct track, sprinting off to an 8 1/4-length victory for the mile affair. But her speed ratings are nothing to be excited about. Ricardo Santana Jr., who was aboard for her maiden breaking race, has the return call. Exotics.

6. Fully Subscribed

In her initial start at 1 1/8 miles, Fully Subscribed closed with each stride but missed the photo by a neck in an optional claiming allowance. Tiz the Law’s daughter is out of a winning Candy Ride mare, and her second dam is the multiple graded-winning turf mare Rutherienne. Also conditioned by Chad Brown, this long-striding filly appears one-paced, but her Brisnet ratings are improving, and she earned a 100 late-pace figure in her last start. Exotics.

Also from the Brown stable, Fully Subscribed debuted a winner in October 2024. That field produced two other eventual winners. After being shelved for 9 1/2 months, Fully Subscribed reappeared in a mile allowance race at Saratoga. She finished third, 1 1/2 lengths behind winner Cue the Duckboats. This filly was most recently second by a neck in a 1 1/8-mile optional claimer. She faced and beat her elders in both starts this year. Fully Subscribed’s speed ratings have improved with each start, culminating with a 93 last out. Brown is 26% wins with a 62% in-the-money clip with runners third off the layoff. Regular rider Dylan Davis retains the mount. Contender.

7. Cue the Duckboats

Cue the Duckboats made a late charge in the 1 1/16-mile Ontario Damsel Stakes but ran out of real estate. She passed tired horses while going wide but didn’t have the acceleration of the third-place finisher, who started her run about the same time. The Bill Mott trainee has tactical speed. She broke her maiden at 1 1/8 miles on the front end and closed in a one-mile allowance at Saratoga, winning by 1 1/4 lengths. Mott and Alvarado are having a spectacular year, and Cue the Duckboats had a pre-race 37.67 three-furlong move to sharpen her speed, a possible indication that she’ll switch to a pacesetting or pressing tactic. The drawback is her low Brisnet ratings in the 80s, and her highest late-pace figure is a 91. She has a win-lose form and lost her last. Contender.

Trained by Bill Mott, Cue the Duckboats has missed the trifecta only once in her career. That occurred last out when she finished fourth in the Ontario Damsel Stakes over Woodbine’s Tapeta surface. Cue the Duckboats hasn’t faced much by way of competition, and her highest speed rating is just an 88. But she is proven at 1 1/8 mile, and Mott is 100% wins with runners switching from Tapeta to dirt in the last year. Junior Alvarado, who piloted her to victory two starts back, has the call. Contender.

8. So There She Was

So There She Was squeezed Lemon Zest dry in the Remington Park Oaks, when she won the battle of wills and opened up by 2 3/4 lengths. The Doug O’Neil trainee earned a career-best 89 Brisnet figure, but her late-pace figures are low. Pass.

Trained by Doug O’Neill, So There She Was is part of the class of the field. She was second to multiple graded-stakes-placed Vodka With a Twist in the Debutante as a juvenile, third in the Del Mar Debutante (G1), second in the Torrey Pines (G3) and won the Remington Park Oaks last out. With the company she’s kept, I have to disagree with Laurie. I love speed ratings as a handicapping tool, but we’ve seen that some of the top runners don’t necessarily produce dazzling numbers despite winning. Joel Rosario has the mount. Contender.

9. Drexel Hill

Drexel Hill ate mud the entire way in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) but still made a sustained rally to grab second place, bested 2 1/4 lengths. The Whit Beckman trainee was one of only three fillies powering forward at the end of the grueling race. She makes her first start after having a bone chip removed and will be taking on fillies with more recent form. She’s been back in training since August with a steady diet of moderate four-furlong moves and one pre-race at five. Drexel Hill’s past performances suggest she needs a few starts to round into shape, but she’s only been off the board twice. She has tactical speed and back class, so perhaps an exotics placing is a hill she can climb.

Trained by Whit Beckman, Drexel Hill is an alumnus of the Kentucky Oaks trail. She was third in the Silverbulletday, won the Busher Invitational, and was second as a 32-1 long shot in the Kentucky Oaks. Drexel Hill does have one of the higher speed ratings in the field, but Beckman is 0% wins with a 67% in-the-money clip with runners coming off a 6-plus-month layoff. However, the filly already has a win at this track. Regular rider Ben Curtis has the call. Exotics.