Golden Goose Drexel Hill, following a hard-earned runner-up finish at 32-1 in her graded stakes debut, aims to climb one step higher in Saturday’s $300,000 Mother Goose (G2) at Aqueduct. When the 3-year-old Bolt D’Oro filly takes to post nine for the 1 1/8-mile dirt contest, she will be making in her first start since landing 2 ¼ lengths behind 7-5 choice Good Cheer in May’s Kentucky Oaks (G1). Trained by D. Whitworth Beckman, Drexel Hill finds herself in a favourable spot, leading the early betting, albeit narrowly, at 7-2 on the morning line. The dark bay, bred by Tuscany Bloodstock, has also enjoyed past success at Aqueduct. Under the hand of rider Ben Curtis, whom she will team up with again Saturday, Drexel Hill captured the Busher Stakes on March 31. Drexel Hill sports a 2-3-1 line from eight starts lifetime ($456,520). Long-er Island Way To Be Marie, under 2020 Belmont Stakes-winning rider Manuel Franco, will operate with some extra runway in the $250,000 Long Island (G3T), Saturday at Aqueduct. After competing at a career-long 1 5/16 miles last time out – a second in the Grade 3 Ladies Marathon on September 6 at Kentucky Downs – Way To Be Marie will stretch further to 1 3/8 miles for the Long Island. Alongside the Ladies Marathon, the three-time graded stakes-placed daughter of Not This Time–Woman Of The World has also fetched podium prizes in the Grade 2 Edgewood (second) and Grade 3 Pebbles (third). Bred by William B. Harrigan and Mike Pietrangelo, Way To Be Marie, who boasts a 3-5-2 career line with $753,200 banked, enters the Long Island at 5-1. Raise the Flag Fresh off earning his flagship stakes triumph, Stars and Strides looks to add to an already banner rookie campaign in Saturday’s $200,000 Hill Prince (G3T). On the rise after delivering a 1 ¼-length Saranac Stakes score on September 1 at Saratoga, Stars and Strides’ next challenge – a 1 1/8-mile inner turf test for sophomores – takes him a little more than 300 kilometres south to Aqueduct Racetrack. The 3-year-old American Pharoah colt has drawn post six for his graded debut, where he will square off against eight hopefuls, including Griffin’s Wharf (6-1), whom he edged by three-quarters-of-a-length in an August 7 claiming tilt at Saratoga. With three wins from four starts this season, Stars and Strides has collected $190,300 for owners Pin Oak Stud LLC. The Bill Mott-trained chestnut opens as the early 2-1 choice. Ride the Wave It’s been an uncharacteristic past few months for two-time graded stakes winner Mercante, who now sets course for Churchill Downs eager to right the ship in Saturday’s $300,000 River City (G3T). In the midst of a three-race stretch having missed the podium entirely – marked by finishes of ninth (Grade 1 Coolmore Turf Mile), fourth (Grade 2 Kentucky Turf Cup), and fourth (Mint Millions Turf Mile Stakes) – the 5-year-old son of Gun Runner–Caressing has otherwise been consistently reliable for breeder/owner Carl Pollard. Prior to the down stretch, Mercante penned a 3-1-0 a scorecard from five starts with breakthrough tallies in the Kentucky Cup Classic (G3T) and Arlington (G3T). The dark bay, conditioned by Brian Knippenberg, will carry underdog status into the River City, opening at 10-1. More the Merrier A remarkably deep cast of 14 fillies and mares, aged three and older, will descend on Woodbine Racetrack to compete for the top spot in Saturday’s $150,000 Bessarabian (G3). Among those enlisted is the Miguel Clement-trained graded stakes winning duo of Love Cervere (6-1) and Les Reyes (FR) (6-1), and 2024 King’s Plate champion Caitlinhergrtness (2-1 favourite). Love Cervere, a 3-year-old Into Mischief filly, scored in the Glen Cove (G3) last out, while her stablemate, 4-year-old Penny’s Picnic (IRE) filly Les Reys (FR), locked down her first graded triumph in the Ontario Fashion (G3) on October 11, also at Woodbine. Caitlinhergrtness, bred in Ontario by Jesse Korona, captured the Ontario Matron (G3) – her second career graded stakes success (Grade 3 Belle Mahone) – on September 13 at Woodbine. From top to bottom, the seven-furlong Bessarabian profiles as just about anyone’s race. Matthew Lomon for Woodbine Share This:Share
