The Mother Goose Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies held at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Raced on dirt in late October, the race currently offers a purse of $300,000. Inaugurated in 1957 at a mile and a sixteenth, it was lengthened to a mile and an eighth in 1959. Originally part of the Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing, the Mother Goose was removed from the series in 2010 and its distance reverted to a mile and a sixteenth.

The Mother Goose was run as a Grade II event beginning in 2017. It had been a Grade I event since 1974 (when grading was first introduced).

The race was named for H.P. Whitney's filly Mother Goose, one of only thirteen fillies to have ever won the male dominated Belmont Futurity Stakes.

The Mother Goose Stakes was run at Aqueduct Racetrack from 1963 to 1967, in 1969, and again in 1975. In 2023 the New York Racing Association announced that the Mother Goose would be moved to the fall and run at Aqueduct, at the Belmont at the Big A meet.

Records

Speed Record: miles – 1:46.33 – Rachel Alexandra (2009) miles – 1:41.01 – Off The Tracks (2016)

Largest Winning Margin: lengths – Rachel Alexandra (2009)

Most wins by an owner: 3 – Eugene V. Klein (1984, 1987, 1989)

Most wins by a jockey: 6 – John Velazquez (1996, 2001, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2014)

Most wins by a Trainer: 6 – Todd A. Pletcher (1998, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2016, 2021) 6 – D. Wayne Lukas (1984, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1995, 2004)

Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Gr.2025Fully SubscribedFlavien PratChad C. BrownKlaravich Stables1:49.73II2024TarifaFlavien PratBrad H. CoxGodolphin1:50.78II2023XigeraJulien LeparouxPhillip A. BauerRigney Racing1:48.99II2022GerrymanderJoel RosarioChad C. BrownKlaravich Stables1:43.74 II2021 Zaajel Joel Rosario Todd A. Pletcher Shadwell Stable 1:42.83 II2020Race not held2019 Dunbar Road José Ortiz Chad C. Brown Peter M. Brant 1:43.54 II2018 Midnight Bisou Mike E. Smith Steven M. Asmussen Bloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stable, Allen Racing 1:41.02 II2017 Unchained Melody Joel Rosario Brian A. Lynch Hidden Brook Farm & Hare Forest Farm 1:42.45 II2016 Off the Tracks José Ortiz Todd A. Pletcher Newtown Anner Stud & J Stables 1:41.01 I2015 Include Betty Drayden Van Dyke Thomas F. Proctor Brereton C. Jones & Timothy C. Thornton1:44.68 I2014 Untapable John Velazquez Steven M. Asmussen Ron Winchell1:41.48 I2013 Close Hatches Joel Rosario Bill Mott Juddmonte Farms1:41.36 I2012 Zo Impressive Rajiv Maragh Thomas Albertrani Live Oak Plantation1:44.05 I2011 Buster's Ready John Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Edward P. Evans1:42.44 I2010 Devil May Care John Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Glencrest Farm1:42.06 I2009 Rachel Alexandra Calvin Borel Steven M. Asmussen Stonestreet Stables & Harold T. McCormick1:46:33 I2008 Music Note Javier Castellano Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin1:49.75 I2007 Octave John Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Don Lucarelli & Starlight Stable 1:47.19 I2006 Bushfire Edgar Prado Eddie Kenneally Ron & Ricki Rashinski1:49.86 I2005 Smuggler Edgar Prado Claude R. McGaughey III Phipps Stable1:48.40 I2004 Stellar Jayne Robby Albarado D. Wayne Lukas Spendthrift Farm1:48.00 I2003 Spoken Fur Jerry D. Bailey Robert J. Frankel Amerman Racing Stable1:50.40 I2002 Nonsuch Bay Jerry D. Bailey Frank Alexander Joseph P. Platt Jr.1:49.00 I2001 Fleet Renee John Velazquez Michael Dickinson Verne Winchell1:47.00 I2000 Secret Status Pat Day Neil J. Howard W. Farish1:48.00 I1999 Dreams Gallore Robby Albarado Steven M. Asmussen Gary A. Tanaka1:48.60 I1998 Jersey Girl Mike E. Smith Todd A. Pletcher Ackerley Brothers Farm1:47.60 I1997AjinaMike E. SmithWilliam I. MottAllen E. Paulson1:48.40 I1996Yanks MusicJohn VelazquezLeo O'BrienAudrey H. Cooper & Michael Fennessy1:47.80 I1995Serena's SongGary StevensD. Wayne LukasRobert & Beverly Lewis1:50.20 I1994 LakewayKent DesormeauxGary F. JonesMichael G. Rutherford1:46.40 I1993Sky BeautyMike E. SmithH. Allen JerkensGeorgia E. Hofmann1:49.60 I1992Turnback the AlarmChris AntleyWilliam V. TerrillValley View Farm1:48.80 I1991Meadow StarJerry D. BaileyLeRoy JolleyCarl Icahn1:48.80 I1990Go For WandRandy RomeroWilliam Badgett Jr.Christiana Stable1:48.80 I1989 Open Mind Ángel Cordero Jr. D. Wayne Lukas Eugene V. Klein1:49.40 I1988 Goodbye Halo Jorge Velásquez Charles E. Whittingham Arthur B. Hancock III1:49.80 I1987Fiesta GalÁngel Cordero Jr.D. Wayne LukasEugene V. Klein1:50.20 I1986Life At The TopJosé A. SantosD. Wayne LukasLloyd R. French Jr.1:49.60 I1985Mom's CommandAbigail FullerEdward T. AllardPeter D. Fuller1:49.60 I1984Life's MagicJorge VelásquezD. Wayne LukasEugene V. Klein1:48.80 I1983Able MoneyAntonio GraellAnthony RussoFaith Donnelly1:49.20 I1982Cupecoy's JoyAngel SantiagoAlfredo CallejasRi-Ma-Ro Stable 1:48.40 I1981Wayward LassCash AsmussenJose A. MartinFlying Zee Stables1:48.80 I1980Sugar and SpiceJeffrey FellJohn M. VeitchCalumet Farm1:49.60 I1979Davona DaleJorge VelásquezJohn M. VeitchCalumet Farm1:48.80 I1978Caesar's WishDanny WrightRichard W. SmallSally M. Gibson1:47.60 I1977Road PrincessJean CruguetJohn P. CampoElmendorf Farm1:48.20 I1976Girl In LoveJean CruguetJohn P. CampoElmendorf Farm1:48.80 I1975RuffianJacinto VásquezFrank WhiteleyLocust Hill Farm1:47.80 I1974Chris EvertJorge VelásquezJoseph A. TrovatoCarl Rosen1:48.60 I1973Windy's DaughterEddie BelmonteLaz BarreraMrs. Paul L. Blackman1:48.40 I1972WandaJorge VelásquezJames P. ConwayNiblick Stable 1:48.401971DeceitJohn L. RotzDel W. CarrollWindfields Farm1:50.201970Office QueenCarlos MarquezBudd LepmanStephen A. Calder1:49.801969ShuveeJesse DavidsonWillard C. FreemanAnne Minor Stone1:50.201968Dark MirageManuel YcazaEverett W. KingLloyd I. Miller1:49.401967Furl SailJacinto VásquezJohn L. WinansMrs. Edwin K. Thomas1:49.601966Lady PittWalter BlumStephen DiMauroGolden Triangle Stable 1:50.401965CordiallyBraulio BaezaEdward ChristmasHowell E. Jackson1:50.801964ScereeLarry AdamsFreeman McMillanHickory Tree Stable1:50.801963Spicy LivingJimmy CombestJimmy RoweEleonora Sears1:50.401962CicadaBill ShoemakerCasey HayesMeadow Stable1:50.001961FunlovingBobby UsseryJim FitzsimmonsOgden Phipps1:50.601960BerloEric GuerinRichard E. HandlenFoxcatcher Farm1:50.001959QuillPaul J. BaileyLucien LaurinReginald N. Webster1:49.401958IdunBill HartackSherrill W. WardJosephine Bay1:43.601957Outer SpaceWillie LesterJames W. MaloneyMrs. Gerard S. Smith1:42.60

References