Distance, timing fit Daydreaming

ELMONT, N.Y. - Trainer Shug McGaughey nominated Daydreaming to Saturday's $200,000 Nassau County Breeders' Cup, a seven-furlong race at Belmont Park, but preferred to run her in a longer race. McGaughey found that spot in Belmont's eighth race Thursday.

are the only 3-year-olds in the race.

Daydreaming made up ground in the stretch of the one-mile Comely, a Grade 3 race, in her last start April 9 at Aqueduct. She finished third, 5 3/4 lengths behind the winner, Society Selection, who is a Grade 1 winner. Society Selection won the Comely by three lengths over Bending Strings, who is running back in the Nassau County.

"My thinking is I can run [Thursday], which would give me good spacing to run back in the Mother Goose," McGaughey said.

The Grade 1, $300,000 Mother Goose at 1 1/8 miles will be run at Belmont on June 26.

Javier Castellano, the leading rider at the Aqueduct spring meet, rides Daydreaming from post 4. Daydreaming figures to be closer to the pace than usual because of a lack of speed and the small field.

Like McGaughey, the connections of Marylebone probably have designs on future stakes engagements for their filly. Marylebone, who drew the rail and will be ridden by John Velazquez, returned to the races last month at Keeneland in a seven-furlong allowance race and finished second, beaten a half-length by Silver Crown. It was Marylebone's first start since finishing last in the Grade 1 Frizette here Oct. 4. Three weeks before the Frizette, Marylebone won the Grade 1 Matron over a weak field. Todd Pletcher, who won last Friday's Kentucky Oaks with Ashado, trains Marylebone.

Hot Golden Jet ran well and finished third in her last start, the Numbered Account Stakes at Aqueduct on March 31. Hot Golden Jet was part of a decent field that included Our Tune and Board Elligible, who came back to win her next race.

hasn't run since finishing fifth Jan. 31 in a 1 1/16-mile allowance race at Aqueduct. The return to one turn should be a plus for Xtra Heart. A New York-bred trained by Jimmy Jerkens, Xtra Heart returns to Belmont, where she earned her two career wins. She shows only two works since her last race, including a pokey five furlongs in 1:05.24 on May 1.