Off the Tracks led all the way in the $300,000 Mother Goose (gr. I) July 2 at Belmont Park, turning back dual grade II winner Lewis Bay at the end to gamely earn her first grade I score. Video: Mother Goose S. (G1)
The 3-year-old Curlin filly came off a runner-up finish to Carina Mia in the June 11 Acorn Stakes (gr. I) at the New York track, and went one better under Jose Ortiz this time after setting quick opening fractions of :22.79 and :45.53.
"She broke good and was very alert. We went a bit fast but she wasn't pushed all the way to do that," Ortiz said. "She was relaxed and did it by herself. She was in a good rhythm. As we passed the three-eighths pole, she gave me a lot of confidence to go on. She responded very well."
Off the Tracks turned back longshot Mom's On Strike and then finished 3 1/2 lengths clear of Lewis Bay, who was making her first start for trainer Chad Brown since a third-place finish in the May 6 Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I).
"It's disappointing," Brown said of the runner-up effort. "She was sitting there loaded the whole way. I thought when she tipped out she'd go right by that horse and she just ran even down the lane. She got a good trip, and she looked like a winner every step of the way until she just flattened out in the middle of the stretch."
The final time for 1 1/16 miles was 1:41.01 on a fast main track. Off the Tracks returned $8.10, $3.60, and $2.70 at odds of 3-1. Bred in Kentucky by Lee McMillin out of the Boston Harbor mare Harve de Grace and a $50,000 Keeneland September yearling sale purchase by agent Chad Summers, she improved her record to 4-1-1 from six starts, for earnings of $485,594 for Newtown Anner Stud and J Stables.
"(We were) just trying to figure out how we thought the race would unfold," Pletcher said. "We weren't positive what a couple horses would do but we felt that if (Off the Tracks) got a clean break there was a decent chance that she would be on the lead, so that was 'plan A' with her.
"Even though the fractions were very fast, the track seems to be playing pretty fast today, so I was a little concerned going as fast as they were, but she seemed to be doing it comfortably and in good rhythm. I was happy to see her have something left to finish."
Lightstream rounded out the trifecta a length back, followed by Mo d'Amour. Grade I winner Rachel's Valentina, favored at 9-5 in the field of seven, finished fifth under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez. Mom's On Strike and Linda Mimi completed the order of finish.
"I really don't have a great explanation (for Rachel's Valentina)," Pletcher said. "It looked like she was in a decent spot, but Johnny seemed like he had to start asking her for a lot earlier than you would expect him to. We'll see how she comes out of it and try to regroup."
It was Off the Tracks' third outing for Pletcher; she first won three in a row for Rudy Rodriguez, including the Schuylerville Stakes (gr. III), then ran third in her first start for her new trainer—the April 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks (gr. II) on a sloppy track. She continued to progress when she placed second by 1 1/4 lengths to Carina Mia in the Acorn with Kentucky Oaks winner Cathryn Sophia in third.
"She is a filly who has always shown big potential," Pletcher said. "Everyone was sort of down on her after the Gulfstream Oaks, but I thought it was a sneaky good race."