Betty's Critters - & History Views

 The 100th running of the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes took place today with a field of 8 3-year-old fillies vying for a purse of $300,000.  The fillies carried between 118 and 124 pounds for the 9 furlong race on a fast track at Pimlico Race Course, outside of Baltimore, Maryland.     When the race began, Gun Song was the crowd's betting favorite, with Corposo as their second choice; both fillies were allotted 118 pounds.    When the gates opened, Recharge stumbled from the gate, which set her behind.  Jeanne Marie led the racers from the gate to the top of the stretch, creating times of 24.20 seconds for the first quarter; a slow 49.47 for the half-mile; and 1:13.66 for 3/4 mile.  The mile was clocked at 1:38.80, with Gun Song, who had run in second place for most of the race, taking the lead.  Gun Song won the race by 3 1/4 lengths in a time of 1:51.39.  Corposo was second by a neck over Call Another Play, who led Whocouldaskformo by ...

 Taxed, the gray/roan daughter of Collected and Yankee Union, won the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico this afternoon by an impressive 3 3/4 lengths.  Taxed finished the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.35, and took home $180,000.  The winning trainer was Randy Morse, and the jockey was Rafael Bejarano.  Hoosier Philly was second, and the previously undefeated Faiza was third.    There were three scratches, so a field of 9 contested the Grade 2 race.  Hoosier Philly, another gray/roan filly, finished second, 2 3/4 lengths in front of Faiza, who was 2 1/2 lengths ahead of Balpool. Taxed winning the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes    The complete order of finish, with purse earnings follows:  1.  Taxed ($180,000); 2.  Hoosier Philly ($60,000); 3.  Faiza ($30,000); 4.  Balpool ($18,000); 5.  Merlazza ($9,000); 6.  Cats Inthe Timber ($3,000); 7.  Towhead; 8.  Comparative; 9.  Sacred Wish.  Scratched entries wer...