Interstatedaydream struck at the right time after a trip just off the pace, and she kicked on to earn her first graded stakes victory on Friday in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico Race Course.
The 3-year-old filly from the first crop of Classic Empire left the starting gate on a loose rein by jockey Florent Geroux, and the pair settled in second, a length off early leader Beguine. Interstatedaydream was flanked by Divine Huntress on the rail and post time favorite Adare Manor on the outside.
Those four led the proceedings past the grandstand for the first time, and through an opening quarter in :23.34, and that group remained the field's top flight as they rounded the first turn and entered the backstretch. Beguine continued to lead after clocking the opening half-mile in :46.65, with Interstatedaydream close behind, about three paths off the rail. Geroux put Interstatedaydream on Beguine's outside hip as the backstretch bent into the final turn, and she was within a half-length after three-quarters in 1:10.46.
Jockey Jose Ortiz continued to ride Beguine confidently under heavy pressure on the outside from Interstatedaydream, and Ortiz began asking his mount with the whip at the three-sixteenths pole. However, it was not enough to counter their rival's momentum on the outside.
Under steady right-handed urging from Geroux, Interstatedaydream was firmly in command with a furlong to go, clocking the mile in 1:35.53, and the filly kicked away to cross the finish 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Adare Manor, who continued to run steadily on the outside. Radio Days, staging a late move from the rail, was a length behind the runner-up.
Interstatedaydream won the 1 1/8-mile Black-Eyed Susan in 1:48.73 over a fast main track. She paid $14.20 to win as the betting public's third choice.
Friday's race marked the first Black-Eyed Susan victory for Geroux, as well as trainer Brad Cox and owner Flurry Racing Stables.
The Black Eyed Susan improved the filly's career record to three wins in five starts, for earnings of $351,225. It was her first graded stakes victory after a series of on-the-board efforts. After breaking her maiden in June of her 2-year-old season in 2021, she finished second in the G2 Adirondack Stakes before being put away for the year. She came back with a March optional claiming score at Oaklawn Park, then finished third in the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland prior to her start at Pimlico.
Interstatedaydream was bred in Ontario by William D. Graham, out of the Uncle Mo mare Babcock, whose runners also include the multiple stakes-placed Emmeline.
Friday's winner sold at auction on three occasions. She initially brought $105,000 as a newly-turned yearling at the 2020 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale, then she sold for $130,000 later that year at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Finally, the filly was picked up by her current owner for $175,000 at last year's Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.
Quotes provided by the Maryland Jockey Club notes team:
Winning trainer Brad Cox, Interstatedaydream (by phone): “I'm just very proud of her. She stepped up and ran a huge race. I was very shocked to see she was the price she was going into the gate. She wasn't getting a lot of respect, and I really thought she fit well with this group. Congratulations to [owner] Staton Flurry. It was a big effort and I thought Florent did a good job of getting a good early position. Her last two works have been phenomenal, and she showed up and ran a big race.”
(On passing the Kentucky Oaks (G1): “She just wasn't ready for it. It would have been back a little too quick, throwing too much at her too quick. I thought this made the most sense.”
Winning jockey Florent Geroux, Interstatedaydream: “That's good when they break like that and put you in a good spot, that helps a lot. She was very comfortable during the race and she had something left down the lane.
“There was no game plan. I thought there would be a couple of fillies, especially on the inside, who would have gone. I was really expecting Adare Manor to be a little bit forwardly placed. But when [jockey] Johnny [Velazquez] was content to sit right off me, I just took advantage of it. I was not going to pull too hard on my filly just to let him pass. I thought my filly was great where she was.”
“I'd say top of the lane, I could tell I put away Adare Manor. My filly took a nice breather twice during the race. So, I thought there was plenty of oxygen in her lungs.”
Trainer Sean McCarthy, Adare Manor, 2nd: “She broke well and got in super position going into the first turn. We were really pleased with it. Down the backside she just kind of dropped the bridle a little bit. [Jockey] Johnny [Velazquez] asked her. She responded. Coming around the turn there was a little bit of the same. He asked her again and she responded. By that time, I think the leader had a pretty good jump on us, so it was harder for our filly to run her down. Our filly didn't stop, but the winner ran a great race, and we just couldn't catch up to her.”
Jockey John Velazquez, Adare Manor, 2nd: “We had good position throughout, but I had to work hard for her to get there. There was a good pace. She was moving real good, I just couldn't get to the winner.”
Jockey Joel Rosario, Radio Days, 3rd: “I saved ground on the first turn, and they went fast. On the backside, I was making up ground, but had to check a bit at the three-eighths pole. Turning for home, she was coming and moving really well to the end.”
Trainer Graham Motion, Divine Huntress, 4th: “I thought the winner ran great. Turning for home, I thought we would get a piece of it, but I was very pleased with her effort. I was happy with her. It showed she belonged with these.”
Trainer/co-owner Hamilton Smith, Luna Belle, 11th: “It wasn't any good. The jockey [Denis Araujo] said she didn't pick it up at all. She didn't break well, and he said she was acting like she was a little flat and dull. I don't know why. She was doing great coming in.
“We will check her out and see. I don't have any excuse other than she got outrun. It was very disappointing. I was hoping she would have had a good showing, and to finish as far back as she did wasn't a good showing. She is better than what she ran today, I know that. We have a lot of opportunities in front of us, some Maryland-bred stuff, a lot of races we can choose from.
“This is her home track, she was born, bred and raised here in Maryland. We had a big following, so it's a disappointing effort. The main thing is that she comes back good. We'll be alright. I didn't see anything out of the ordinary other than she didn't break good. I expected her to be a lot closer earlier, sixth, seventh, something like that. But she was all the way back next to last almost. I told my partner [co-owner Deborah S. Greene] she is not going to run good today.”
Trainer Dan Peitz, pacesetter Beguine, 12th: “I'm not sure what happened. It looked like she might have been bothered around the three-eighths pole but I'm not sure until I watch the replay. It was disappointing.”
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