Zaajel overhauled favored Always Carina in deep stretch to post a one-and-a-quarter length victory in the G2 Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park June 26.
Dismissed at odds of 18-1, the three-year-old daughter of Street Sense stalked leader Always Carina from second throughout most of the race, before cruising up to challenge the favorite at the top of the lane. The pair battled for several strides before Zaajel took command late and pulled away to win quite easily.
Zaajel began her career in Florida, winning her first two races – which included a victory in the G3 Forward Gal Stakes - at Gulfstream Park.
Zaajel races as a homebred for Shadwell Stable and is out of the Stakes-placed mare, Asiya. Zaajel is a half-sister to Graded Stakes-placed Ajaaweed (2nd, G2 Remsen), and hails from the family of multiple Graded Stakes winners United (G2 Charlie Whittingham, etc.) and Harlan Punch (G3 Philip H. Iselin).
Zaajel is one of seven Stakes winners so far this year for her sire. In addition to the Mother Goose winner, Street Sense is the sire of Maxfield (G2 Stephen Foster, G2 Alysheba Stakes), Concert Tour (G2 Rebel), Minister (G1 Kranji Mile in Singapore), Windmill (Dixie Belle Stakes), Capo Kane (Jerome Stakes) and Hollis (Stonerside Sprint).
