All eyes and many betting dollars were on the undefeated Faiza before Friday's Grade 2, $300,000 George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Pimlico race course in Baltimore, Md.
The Girvin filly, a $725,000 purchase by Baltimore resident Michael Lund Petersen at the nearby Fasig-Tipton Timonium Sale of 2-year-olds in training in 2022, was bred in Kentucky by Brereton C. Jones and had racked up four graded stakes victories in California for trainer Bob Baffert.
But when the field of nine turned into the stretch of the Black-Eyed Susan, Faiza – the 3-5 betting favorite – began to retreat after chasing front-running Hoosier Philly throughout. Taxed, another filly bred by Brereton Jones at his Airdrie Stud in Midway, Ky., commenced a strong rally, leaving Faiza in the dust and taking dead aim at Hoosier Philly and Edwin Morales.
Under Rafael Bejarano, the Randy Morse-trained Taxed, a daughter of Collected, overtook Hoosier Philly inside the furlong pole and drew off to her first career stakes win. Hoosier Philly, sensational in a perfect 3-for-3 season at 2 but disappointing in two prior starts this year, easily held second, 3 3/4 lengths behind the winner, with Faiza and jockey Flavien Prat checking in third, beaten another 2 3/4 lengths. Balpool was fourth, followed by Merlazza, Cats Inthe Timber, Towhead, Comparative, and Sacred Wish. Frosty O Toole, Miracle, and Pate were scratched.
Time for the 1 1/8 miles on a fast track was 1:49.45, following fractions of :23.44, :47.24, 1:11.28, and 1:36.36. Taxed returned a $24 mutuel.
The winner, claimed for $50,000 by trainer Randy Morse out of a maiden claiming race she won at Churchill Downs last Nov. 20, campaigns for Richard Bahde, who called the Black-Eyed Susan “the greatest win we've ever had.”
The win was the second in eight starts for Taxed, produced from the stakes-placed Yankee Gentleman mare, Yankee Union. She sold originally for $27,000 as a Keeneland September Sale yearling, then brought a bid of $105,000 at the OBS March Sale of 2-year-olds in training.
Morse, winning his first graded stakes since Moonshine Mullin captured the G1 Stephen Foster Handicap in 2014, entered Taxed in four stakes at Oaklawn since the claim.
She ran on the front end before tiring to be fourth in the Years End on Dec. 31, then was a good second in the Martha Washington on Jan. 28. On Feb. 25, with Bejarano in the saddle for the first time, she was chasing the pace early and wound up ninth in the G3 Honeybee. Bejarano suggested taking the blinkers off the filly and she responded with a solid second to Wet Paint in the G3 Fantasy.
She blossomed in her morning works at Churchill Downs, but like Hoosier Philly was on the outside looking in when she came up short on points for the G1 Kentucky Oaks. Both were on the also eligible list but failed to draw in.
The Black-Eyed Susan and its $180,000 winner's share of the purse was a very good consolation prize to not getting to run in the Oaks.
Black-Eyed Susan Quotes:
Winning Trainer Randy Morse (Taxed): “That was pretty special…. I tell you. I've been kind of dreaming that she might run that way.”
(On the $50,000 claim last fall): “She's a real nice-looking filly, and I'd seen her train. Just one of those deals where we got lucky – got her in a shake.”
(On removing blinkers) “She was just always pulling, too rank. Because every time she ran, she looked like she was going to win, and she just didn't have any finish. As you see now that she's relaxing behind horses and settling. It's made a huge difference.”
“When they headed up the backside, I loved her spot. She was behind horses and clear. I said to myself, 'If you can't do it from here, you don't have any excuse.'”
(On where this ranks among career highlights): “I won the Stephen Foster, that was a Grade 1. Even if it's a claiming race, a win's a win.”
“It's hard to compete with these guys who go in and spend millions of dollars on young horses. I'm not knocking them; I'd like to be in their position. Most of my better horses have been claimed.”
Winning Owner Richard Bahde (Taxed): “We are very excited to win this race. This is our first visit to Maryland, our first visit to Pimlico, and I want to come back again as soon as possible. The next stake, I want to be here. The folks here at Pimlico have been so gracious and kind, the whole setup.
“I started out in the bull rings in Nebraska with $5,000 claimers and then I met this man (trainer Randy Morse) and he took me to a whole different level. We have had a lot of fun together.
(Biggest win?) “It just happened. This is it. I have never won a graded-stakes race before. I am multiple graded stakes-placed, but this is the first win.
“When she made her move on that turn, I knew we had it won. She loves her job, she loves to run and once she got clear to the outside, it was over. She went past that 3 horse (Hoosier Philly) like she was standing still.”
Winning Jockey Rafael Bejarano (Taxed): “I had a very good trip. I put her in the position the way that I wanted and went from there. I followed the favorite (Faiza), came to the stretch and let her out. My horse responded really good and she finished really well. She has improved a lot and was better than the last time.
(Is she better without blinkers?) “For sure. Definitely. This is the second time she has run without the blinkers, and she improved. It seems like she is more relaxed.”
Trainer Tom Amoss (Hoosier Philly, 2nd): “Edgar (Morales) rode a fabulous race on her. We were able to control the pace. Look, when he turned for home and peeked over his shoulder, I got that feeling that you can't buy. I thought we were going to win. There were a lot of things going through my mind, and they were all positive. Until about the eighth pole. We just had one that was better than us today. I'm happy for Randy Morse. He's a great trainer, and I'm proud that he got to win the race. I maybe had a little egg on my face, proclaiming her (Hoosier Philly) as the best I've trained. I think we're on the road to proving that again.”
Jockey Edgar Morales (Hoosier Philly, 2nd): “She broke good. I wasn't planning to be on the lead, but the 4 horse [Merlazza] bumped into me a little and she cruised to the lead. She was running comfortably so I just let her be. She tried hard. She always tries. You can't count those last two races. The Fair Grounds was not the best for her.”
Trainer Bob Baffert (Faiza, 3rd): “She broke well and was in a good spot. When the running started, she did not have that kick that she usually has. She ran a good race; she just wasn't good enough today. We are still trying to figure her out. (Flavien) Prat said she had the trip. She did everything right but win. It was a good test for her, this being her first time shipping. We are proud of her; at least she was right there. Those two fillies (1-2 finishers Taxed and Hoosier Philly) looked good in the paddock; I thought they would run well. We will go home with her and regroup.”
Jockey Flavien Prat (Faiza, 3rd): “No excuses.”
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