Mother Goose fair odds: Lemon Zest could leave a sour taste

The Grade 3 Mother Goose Stakes on Saturday at Aqueduct is a competitive matchup between established Grade 1 fillies and several other up-and-coming 3-year-olds.

It's so competitive, in fact, that I am having a hard time figuring out which of these sophomores will be worth a bet when they go postward for this 1 1/8-mile test. The one thing I am sure of, though, is there will be no value on Lemon Zest.

She was 2-5 against five rivals in the Remington Park Oaks and set a fair pace but had no response for fellow Mother Goose entrant So There She Was. Lemon Zest figures to appreciate the nine furlongs here more than So There She Was does, so maybe being a pace presence again helps her turn the tables. But I'm inclined to pass on both of these Remington Park Oaks horses here.

If there is other pace with Lemon Zest, then things set up best for Ourdaydreaminggirl, a deep closer who has earned black type and decent money while running this summer at Parx. I have her as the most likely winner, so it's likely that she is also value with Lemon Zest expected to take money.

As for others, any of Being Myself, Fully Subscribed, Cue the Duckboats and Drexel Hill could offer value, depending on where the money goes. I do not expect all four of those, or even three of them, to be overlaid vs. my fair odds, but I have to think one or two will be. Those are who I would key with Ourdaydreaminggirl.

Drexel Hill has the most long-term upside, but returning off a six-plus-month layoff to go nine furlongs against graded-stakes foes might make next time the time. Being Myself has the most upside as she has never gone this far but improved last out in her full two-turn debut. Fully Subscribed will get a similar trip to our top pick. Cue the Duckboats is the only entrant with a win at 1 1/8 miles, though Queen Azteca has won going farther.