Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico 2023

 The Preakness counter-part of the Kentucky Oaks for 3-year-old fillies is the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes.  It will take place this Friday, 19 May, at Pimlico Race Course, outside of Baltimore, Maryland.  The Preakness Stakes will be run on Saturday, 20 May.  The Black-Eyed Susan is now a Grade 2 race.  It's run on the main dirt track at Old Hilltop, as is the Preakness.  The race is now a handicap race, where the fillies who are considered "better" by the horsemen at the track carry more weight in the race than the other entries.  This race covers 1 1/8 miles, or 9 furlongs, and the purse is $300,000.  Post time is listed as 5:44 pm EDT  (3:44 MDT).  There are 12 entries, carrying weights of 118, 120, or 124 pounds.  The weight differences are supposed to get all the fillies at the finish line at the same time.

   Of the twelve fillies entered, Pate was bred in Virginia, Miracle was bred in New York, Balpool and Frosty O Toole were bred in Florida, and the other 8 are Kentucky-breds.  There are two horses listed as chestnut (but in the photos I've looked at Pate looks like a bay - maybe it's the lighting?); two are gray/roans; and the other 8 are bays. The 2 gray/roan fillies were both on the "waiting list" for the Kentucky Oaks.  None of the Kentucky Oaks contenders are in this race.  The twelve fillies represent twelve stallions.  Three trainers each have two fillies: Todd Pletcher, Brad Cox and Michael J. Maker.

   The post positions have been drawn - but I am frustrated in that I cannot find any morning line betting odds posted; only Las Vegas odds for the Preakness.....

Taxed, who will be breaking from post 10

 As usual, I will list the post position, name of the filly, weight assigned, sire and dam:

1.    Sacred Wish      118    Not This Time    Indian Wish

2.    Pate       118     Super Saver    Ready Reply

3.    Hoosier Philly     124     Into Mischief    Tapella

4.    Merlazza     120     Medaglia d'Oro    Mi Vida

5.    Frosty O Toole    118    Frosted    O'Toole

6.    Miracle     118     Mendelssohn    Good Omen

7.    Comparative     120    Street Sense    Collective

8.    Balpool     118     Uncaptured    Remington Rose

9.    Faiza     124     Girvin    Sweet Pistol

10.  Taxed     118     Collected    Yankee Union

11.  Cats Inthe Timber    120     Honor Code    Wychwood

12.  Towhead     118     Malibu Moon    Smartly Agree

Faiza has shipped in from California, and will break from gate 9

   At the moment, it seems that Mage, who won the Kentucky Derby, will be the only entry from the Derby in the Preakness... It looks as if there will be 9 entries in the Preakness, with the post position drawing at 5:30 pm EDT tomorrow....  I'll be posting tomorrow night.

  Here's to several weeks of racing with no injuries or illnesses!!   -  Bet wisely, if you do bet.