A Trio of Stakes Highlight Pimlico’s Friday Card Led by Black-Eyed Susan

[Wandering Eyes]

BALTIMORE, MD — A week of soggy weather couldn't dampen the spirits around the final Preakness weekend to be held at historic Pimlico Racecourse before it gets a major facelift.

Five stakes, including a trio of graded tests, headline Friday's racing action, including the GII George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes. With several big-name trainers rolling into town for the marquee weekend, the locally based Brittany Russell will attempt to become only the second female trainer in Maryland history to win the Black-Eyed Susan with Repole Stable's Reply (Curlin). The only other trainer to accomplish the feat is Deborah Bodner, who won it in 1997 with a horse she also owned, Salt It. Russell is the most recent to try it, finishing sixth with 63-1 longshot Cats Inthe Timber in 2023.

“It's great to be in a race like this, especially with [a filly] that I've been fond of for quite some time,” Russell said. “To have one for [Mike] Repole, here at home, it means a lot.”

A debut winner going a mile at Colonial Mar. 14, Reply finished 3/4-lengths behind stablemate Complexity Jane in Laurel's Weber City Miss Stakes Apr. 19.

“Completely different running style [from Complexity Jane],” Russell said. “She's just a big, grindy filly. There's no early foot to her at all. She's kind of a funny filly mentally, actually. She's improved a lot since I've had her. There might be a little more improve in her. Distance won't be an issue, and a little bit of a pace setup in front of her wouldn't hurt.”

In 2023, Russell made history as the first woman to lead Maryland's annual standings in wins by a trainer at Laurel and Pimlico, a feat she repeated in 2024. Only the fourth female trainer ever to win a meet title in Maryland in the spring of 2022, she became the first to do it more than once and now has nine to her credit, the most recent coming at the Laurel Park stand that ended May 4.

“Obviously, I want one for the Preakness,” she said of a major box she wants to check off her list. “I'm still looking for that horse, but we'll take aim at the Black-Eyed Susan this year. You've got to dream, right? You just hope they show up on the day.”

The morning-line favorite in the nine-furlong race is Chief Stipe Scharbauer's Runnin N Gunnin (Gun Runner), winner of two of three races in 2025, including the Feb. 16 Sunland Park Oaks. Third in the GII Fantasy Stakes last time out, the filly is trained by Steve Asmussen, who will attempt to win his first Black-Eyed Susan.

Godolphin's Paris Lily (City of Light) offers a sneaky opportunity to double up following a last-out win over the re-opposing Liam in the Dust (Liam's Map) in the slop while facing optional claiming foes at Keeneland Apr. 6. Joel Rosario, who was aboard for her latest victory, gets the call. The filly has been the regular workmate for GI Preakness Stakes contender and GIII Stonestreet Lexington Stakes winner Gosger.

“She's doing really well,” trainer Brendan Walsh said of Paris Lily. “She's working a lot better than she did at any point through the year. I'm looking forward to her, actually.”

Wayne Lukas also sends post ward Princess Aliyah (Into Mischief), a $1.2 million Keeneland September purchase. Winner of the Valley of the Vapors Stakes at Oaklawn Apr. 19, she returns off a 10th last time in the GII Eight Belles Stakes at Churchill Downs May 2.

“We sprinted her in the Eight Belles, and I don't think that is her cup of tea. The Black-Eyed Susan is 1 1/8 miles and it will be kind of an experiment for her,” Lukas said. “She won the Valley of the Vapors and looked really good doing it. We just think she's probably better at two turns. We'll see. She should like that surface. It's a good spot to find out where we're at with her.”

Making its debut in 1919 as the Pimlico Oaks, the Black-Eyed Susan was not run from 1932-36 and again in 1950 and was renamed upon its 1951 return to honor the Preakness and Maryland's state flower. Nine of its winners have gone on to be named champion 3-year-old filly, including Hall of Famers Davona Dale, Real Delight, Royal Delta, Serena's Song, Silverbulletday and Twilight Tear.

Pimlico's Friday Undercard

West Point Thoroughbreds, Michael Lyden and Michael Olszewski's Mila Rose (Vekoma) gets a class test Friday in the six-furlong Miss Preakness Stakes. Trained by Steve Asmussen, the chestnut was an easy 3 1/2-length winner in her career debut over the Turfway synthetic Mar. 6 before coming from off the pace to score by a length in her dirt bow at Keeneland Apr. 17. Red-hot Jose Ortiz gets the mount.

Brad Cox also hopes to launch a big weekend with Stunner (Girvin), who has finished second in two starts this season, including a sloppy renewal of the seven-furlong GII Beaumont Stakes at Keeneland Apr. 6.

Long Neck Paula (Uncle Mo), winner of a pair of stakes in 2024, attempts to regain the winning thread since finishing runner-up as the favorite in the Apr. 6 rained-off Palisades Stakes going 5 1/2 furlongs at Keeneland. Wesley Ward gives the call to recent Derby-winning jockey Junior Alvarado, who was aboard the filly for a win in Keeneland's six-panel Bowman Mill Stakes last November.

The handicap division also gets its day with the GIII Pimlico Special. Trainer Brad Cox also offers up a pair–Grade III scorer Encino (Nyquist) and Star of Wonder (Uncle Mo), a winner of his two most recent starts, including a mile test at the Big A Apr. 4. Irad Ortiz, Jr. gets the mount on the former while Flavien Prat returns to ride the latter.

Friday's undercard also features the Allaire duPont Distaff Stakes, the Hilltop Stakes and The Very One Stakes.

The post A Trio of Stakes Highlight Pimlico’s Friday Card Led by Black-Eyed Susan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article