Oaks Runner-Up Drexel Hill Returns in Mother Goose

Drexel Hill , runner-up in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), returns to the starting gate for her first race since the Run for the Lilies in the $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes (G2) Nov. 8 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by Whit Beckman for Legion Racing, Drexel Hill outran her 32-1 odds in the May 2 Oaks when closing to finish 2 1/4 lengths behind the victorious Good Cheer . The effort followed the Bolt d'Oro   filly's score in the Busher Stakes at the Big A in March. 

"That was an amazing effort (in the Kentucky Oaks)," Beckman said. "The pace wasn't real firm that day. We were farther back than we wanted to be. We are assuming that hopefully, when she comes back, she doesn't keep herself so far back. We'd like her to be a little more forwardly placed."

Following the Oaks, Drexel Hill underwent surgery for a small chip in her knee. She resumed training over the summer and in August posted her first published work since the Oaks at Saratoga Race Course. Based at Churchill Downs this autumn, she'll make the journey north in hopes of striking glory once again at the Ozone Park, N.Y., oval. 

"She came back very quickly and seems to be stronger than ever," Beckman said. "She has been off for quite a while. Coming back at a mile and an eighth at Aqueduct is no easy task.

"We are in the latter part of the year now; there are strong fillies who have been running. We are coming in off a layoff, so we'll take it all under consideration." 

Ben Curtis, the filly's pilot in her past three starts, will be aboard. The pair will break from the outermost post in the field of nine 3-year-old fillies. 

Out of the winning Daaher mare Ascot Walk, Drexel Hill is a half sister to Regaled, who finished third in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) for Beckman.

Among the sea of shippers scheduled to start in Saturday's field is the Doug O'Neill-trained So There She Was . The filly that calls California home successfully took her show on the road with a last-out victory in the $200,000 Remington Park Oaks Sept. 28 over the reopposing Lemon Zest . The 1 1/8-mile Mother Goose will be the longest distance the daughter of Munnings   has attempted yet, although she handled the 1 1/16 miles at Remington with little issue. 

Other notable runners making the trip to New York include Team Valor International's Queen Azteca , a group 3 winner in Dubai who makes her first start for trainer Rudy Brisset. The Sharp Azteca  bay previously was conditioned through her first 10 outings by Niels Petersen, and enjoyed a strong run of form at Meydan Racecourse over the winter, where she won the UAE Oaks (G3) in February. Queen Azteca landed fifth against males in the UAE Derby (G2) to conclude her run in the Middle East.

She returned to action with a pair of outings at Jagersro in Sweden, including a runner-up finish in the a 1 3/4-length second in the Swedish Derby in July.

Queen Azteca was purchased privately by Team Valor ahead of the Swedish Derby and last out finished a distant fifth in the Alabama Stakes (G1).

Ourdaydreaminggirl , an excellent third at 42-1 odds in the Cotillion Stakes (G1) to Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) fourth-place finisher Clicquot ; and the Cherie DeVaux-trained Being Myself , an impressive first-level allowance winner at Churchill Downs Sept. 26.

Five-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown sends out a promising pair in maiden winners Fully Subscribed  and Filly Freedom . Klaravich Stables' Fully Subscribed graduated on debut here last October, powering away to a four-length score, while William Lawrence and William Rucker's Filly Freedom has hit the board in each of her three career starts, culminating in an 8 1/4-length maiden score last out in a one-turn mile against elders Oct. 3 at Aqueduct.