Secret Status Best in Mother Goose

Secret Status confirmed her Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) win Saturday at Belmont Park, rallying through the stretch to win the $250,000 Mother Goose (gr. I) by 2 1/4 lengths. Over a fast track, she completed the one-turn 1 1/8-mile race in 1:48.03.

Jostle raced strongly to finish second, 1 1/2 lengths in front of Finder's Fee. C'est L' Amour was fourth, followed by Heavens Above, Cat Cay, and March Magic.

Heavens Above and Jostle dueled for the early lead through fractions of 23.03 and 45.63. Comely (gr. III) winner March Magic stalked from the garden spot in third, with Secret Status and C'est L' Amour a few lengths farther back. March Magic moved up on the turn, with Secret Status beginning to rally along the rail. As they straightened for home, Secret Status swung out for the stretch run and pulled away in the final furlong to the winning margin.

"I had the other fillies measured turning for home, but once we straightened away, she didn't seem too concerned about putting Jostle away," said winning rider Pat Day. "I gave her a couple of taps, and inside the 1/16-pole she really took off."

Secret Status (A.P. Indy--Private Status, by Alydar) is a 3-year-old homebred owned by J.A. Elkins, W.S. Farish, and T. Webber. The Mother Goose wins brings her career record to six wins from 10 starts, and marks her third consecutive win, all in graded stakes company. Secret Status won the Florida Oaks (gr. III) at Tampa Bay Downs in March before pulling away to an impressive 6 3/4-length win in the Kentucky Oaks. The Neil Howard trainee earned $150,000 for the win.

As the favorite, Secret Status returned $3.40, $2.70, and $2.20. Jostle paid $8.20 and $4.30. Finder's Fee paid $2.50 to show. The winning exacta combination returned $30.60.

Howard said Secret Status would run next in the 1 1/2-mile Coaching Club America Oaks (gr. I). (Chart, Equibase)