Rachel Alexandra Returns - Mother Goose Stakes

Race-day: 6/27/2009

Race-time: Mother Goose at 5:17 pm est. and Vanity Handicap at 5:30 pm est.

Rachel Alexandra returns in the Grade I Mother Goose at Belmont Park on Saturday. As expected, she’s a huge favorite in the BetUS online racebook at 1 to 5.

After the Mother Goose is the Grade I Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park. The Vanity appears to be a much tougher race for handicappers.

Let’s take a look at this weekend’s stakes races.

Belmont Park - - Race 9

Grade I Mother Goose

$300,000

For Fillies Three Years Old

Can any horse in this field beat Rachel Alexandra? Maybe. The filly Flashing has gone from the barn of Tom Albertrani to Saeed Bin Suroor. The change could be significant as Suroor is the top trainer in the world. Not only that, but Flashing does have the speed to stick with Rachel Alexandra. Let’s peg her for the upset. Rachel Alexandra is just an excellent filly. She’s going to be tough to beat. A second place finish is almost a given. For third, Malibu Prayer could hang on after winning her last two races by a total of 20 ¼ lengths. She’s out of the Todd Pletcher barn and could be tough to run down.

1. Flashing

2. Rachel Alexandra

3. Malibu Prayer

Hollywood Park - - Race 4

Grade I Vanity Handicap

$300,000

For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward

Zenyatta is simply one of the best horses to ever step onto a racetrack. She’s undefeated and will remain so after the Grade I Vanity. Betting her to win doesn’t make any sense, however, so we’ll put long shot Briecat on the bottom half of the exacta. Briecat should track a very strong pace and then make a move before Zenyatta comes rolling by. For third, Forest Melody has the back class and the legs to stay for a while.

1. Zenyatta

2. Briecat

3. Forest Melody