Federico Tesio, Weber City Miss Top Laurel Spring Meet Stakes

Laurel Park will open for a 15-day Spring meet beginning Friday, April 5. In a release from the Maryland Jockey Club, the meet, which will run through Sunday, May 5, will play host to a total of nine stakes worth over $950,000 topped by the Federico Tesio S., a 'Win and You're In' for the Triple Crown's middle jewel, the GI Preakness S. at Pimlico May 18.

Additionally, the Weber City Miss S. offers 3-year-old fillies the chance to nab a paid spot in the GII Black-Eyed Susan S. May 17. Laurel's current Heritage Meet continues through March 30.

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Black-Eyed Susan Card Kicks Off Preakness Weekend

BALTIMORE, MD–The past two weeks has seen the kind of drama that one might expect in soap opera, laden with twists and turns that have left even the most seasoned turfwriters scratching their heads in disbelief. However, despite the all head-snapping headlines, the days leading up to this year's Preakness at Pimlico were business as usual. Thursday morning's activity matched the Baltimore weather, brisk and clear, with everything seemingly running without any major glitches. Following a brief hiatus because of the COVID pandemic, the morning tours were back in force at Pimlico, and given the robust turnout, it appeared fans remained eager to come out and experience racing's biggest events. Meanwhile, the 1/ST team of vets were clearly getting their steps in, making their rounds throughout the Preakness barns, while the typical mass of reporters milled about waiting for the reigning Kentucky Derby champ Mage (Good Magic) to make his way to the track promptly after the break at about 8:45a.m.

 

Faiza Puts Unbeaten Record on the Line
Friday's card at Pimlico is highlighted by a trio of graded stakes, anchored by the nine-furlong GII George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan S. The one clearly to beat is the undefeated Michael Lund Petersen's Faiza (Girvin), who has reeled off four consecutive graded victories, including the GI Starlet S. last December. This season, she won the GIII Las Virgenes S. and GIII Santa Ysabel S. before taking the GII Santa Anita Oaks.

“She's very professional. She's got a really good mind,” said trainer Bob Baffert. “Every time [Flavien] Prat rides, he says there is so much more in the tank because she doesn't win by a lot. I think [the Black-Eyed Susan] is going to be a step up. She will be running against more horses, so you never know. But she's doing really well.”

In Faiza's latest start in the Apr. 8 Santa Anita Oaks, she rolled home an impressive 6 1/2-length winner.

“She was really on when he asked her to go. I trained her a little bit stiffer for that one because I figured it was going to be a tougher race,” Baffert explained. “She looks great. She's healthy. She's really in the zone right now. I think she would have been tough in the [Kentucky] Oaks, but we'll find out in the Black-Eyed Susan.”

Flying a bit under the radar is Madaket Stables' Balpool (Uncaptured), who rides a two-race win skein. A comfortable winner going a mile at the Big A Apr. 7, the Florida-bred followed up with another in an off-turf renewal of the Memories of Silver S. at that venue Apr. 29.

“We were kind of scratching our heads as to what kind of filly she was,” admitted trainer Rob Atras. “That allowance race came up, so we figured we'd give her another shot in there and she really handled that field well that day. She really finished up good and kind of ran away from them. We got a little lucky with the stake [coming off the turf] but she still beat a couple decent fillies in there so, to me, it looks like she's progressing and getting better with every start. We're kind of excited about her and we're hoping that if we do run that she'll take another step forward.”

Brad Cox offers a two-pronged attack with Don Alberto's Merlazza (Medaglia d'Oro) and Godolphin homebred Comparative (Street Sense). The former won two of her first three starts before adding a victory in Oaklawn's Valley Of The Vapors S. Apr. 22.

“We have been pointing to this race with her since she won the first level allowance at the Fair Grounds [Mar. 25],” confirmed Cox.

Florent Geroux, who was aboard for her first three starts before being replaced by Joel Rosario for her latest, gets back aboard Friday.

In regard to her latest victory, Cox explained, “I just liked the way the race came up at Oaklawn. I thought she fit very well. It was a bit oddly run since there wasn't much pace and she sat behind horses and Joel did a good job of getting her out and letting her finish up.”

Although stepping up to graded company for the first time, Cox remains confident the Don Alberto homebred is up to the task.

“She's had two solid works since at Churchill and she shipped well and looks amazing,” he said. “I think she'll handle the mile and an eighth. It's her first attempt at graded stakes company but I think she's that caliber.”

And another reason to run at Pimlico?

“I obviously want to keep her away from Wet Paint,” he said with a chuckle.

Comparative needed several tries to get going, but finally broke through going 8 1/2 furlongs at the Fair Grounds in February before making it two straight in a Keeneland optional claimer Apr. 7. Luis Saez was aboard for both her career victories.

“I think Merlazza is probably a little bit quicker off the blocks than Comparative, but I think I would like Luis to keep Comparative involved [early],” Cox explained. “I think she does her best running when she's up close, and she showed that in her last two. She's stepping up in competition and we're going to need to see her move forward.”

 

Friday Undercard Packs Competitive Affairs
Cox also packs a punch in the six-furlong GIII Miss Preakness S. with morning line favorite Key of Life (Mo Town). The winner of three consecutive races last season, including the Myrtlewood S. at Keeneland, the bay finished third in the mud in the Dixie Belle S. at Oaklawn in February before annexing two straight in the Purple Mountain S. followed by the seven-furlong Beaumont S. at Keeneland Apr. 16.

“That's a good race,” said Cox of the Miss Preakness. “It's not a big field but it's a competitive group. There are some other fillies in there with speed, so I think it's going to be a jock's race. Flavien [Prat] is going to have to figure out a trip from down on the inside. They'll obviously need to get out and get some position, but hopefully, we can have enough late so she can finish down the lane.”

Trying to play the role of spoiler in the Miss Preakness is undefeated Maple Leaf Mel (Cross Traffic). All three of her wins have been recorded while facing New York-bred competition, including her sole start in 2023 in the East View S. at Aqueduct Mar. 24. She is campaigned by famed Hall of Fame football coach Bill Parcell's August Dawn Farm.

In the male handicap division, Twin Creeks' Law Professor (Constitution) will try and collect his first graded score since taking the 2021 renewal of the GII Santa Anita Mathis Mile. Victorious in last season's Tapit S. at Kentucky Downs before finishing runner-up to Life Is Good in the GI Woodward S. and a fifth in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, the gelding launched 2023 with a win in the Queen's County S. at Aqueduct in January before coming home third in Oaklawn's GIII Razorback H. Feb. 18. Well supported in a muddy renewal of the nine-furling Excelsior Apr. 1, he came home a 4 1/4-length winner. Manny Franco, who was aboard for both wins this season, gets the call.

Also coming into this year's Pimlico Special off a win is Lucky Seven Stable's Rattle N Roll (Connect), victorious in the GIII Ben Ali S. at Keeneland Apr. 22. Trained by Ken McPeek, the chestnut won three races at the stakes level, including the GIII Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park.

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Adare Manor Heads Black-Eyed Susan

Michael Petersen's Adare Manor (Uncle Mo) will try to recapture her winning form in Pimlico's Friday feature, the GII George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan S. While under the care of trainer Bob Baffert last season, she debuted with a close up second sprinting six furlongs on Santa Anita's Halloween day card before coming home fourth next time going 6 1/2 panels at Del Mar in November. Shelved for the remainder of the season, the dark bay returned with a gaudy 12-length score in her route bow at Santa Anita and followed up with an equally impressive victory in the Feb. 6 GIII Las Virgenes S. Transferred to Tim Yakteen for her latest in the GII Santa Anita Oaks, she came up a desperate neck short as the favorite and has been with Sean McCarthy, best known as the trainer of Grade 1 winner Majestic Harbor, since that 8 1/2-furlong test. John Velazquez, who has been aboard in her three most recent starts, retains the mount.

Bradley Thoroughbreds, Gary Finder, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Tim Cambron, Anna Cambron and Team Hanley's Distinctlypossible (Curlin), runner-up in her six-furlong career bow at Saratoga last summer, didn't need a win under her belt for trainer Chad Brown to take a shot at Keeneland's GI Alciabiades S. in October. Giving a good account of herself with a solid second behind favored Juju's Map (Liam's Map), who subsequently finished second in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, the daughter of GSW Funny Proposition (Medaglia d'Oro) wouldn't see racing action again this season, when registering a 1 1/4-length graduation at Keeneland Apr. 10.

“She's a lightly-raced horse that we got a little bit of a late start with this year,” explained Brown. “She was a little sick over the winter and I was really trying to get her on the [GI Kentucky] Oaks trail and she just ran out of time. She's a really talented horse, and I'm looking forward to bringing her. This seems like a nice spot to keep her around two turns.”

Deborah Greene and Laurel Park-based trainer Hamilton Smith's Luna Belle (Great Notion) enters the fray off a five-race win skein and tries to bump up her game a notch in the weekend's marquee race for 3-year-old fillies. All of her latest wins have been in stakes company at Laurel, including the one-mile Beyond the Wire S. Mar. 19 and the Apr. 16 Weber City Miss S.

“If she runs the same type of race that she has in the last several, where she's able to relax off the lead a little bit, she should be tough,” said Smith. “I would have to think there will be some speed in the race, more so than what we've had before, really. It should set up pretty good in that respect.”

Second choice at odds of 9-2 on the morning line, Luna Belle drew Post 6 and will be ridden for the sixth straight race by Denis Araujo.

“She's won five in a row and she's stepped up a little farther in distance each time and she's handled it well. Off of her last race, it doesn't look like a mile and an eighth should be a hindrance,” Smith added. “I think the main thing is the competition that she's going to have to run against. You're looking at a tougher bunch of fillies in here than we've had recently.”

Stonestreet Stables' Favor (Pioneerof the Nile), who has shown an affinity for a route of ground, tries to gain some black-type here. A lack-luster fourth in her debut while sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs at the Big A last November, the grey returned to annex her next two going a mile at Gulfstream Jan. 9 and Feb. 6, respectively. Stepping into graded company for her latest–in the GII Fair Grounds Oaks Mar. 26, she over a messy start to be third behind reigning juvenile champion filly Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) and graded stakes scorer Hidden Connection (Connect). Her Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher also won the Black-Eyed Susan with Stopchargingmaria (2014), In Lingerie (2012), Panty Raid (2007) and Spun Sugar (2005).

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Army Wife Takes Black-Eyed Susan

Sent off at 9-2 following a troubled third last out in Aqueduct's GIII Gazelle S., Army Wife (Declaration of War) came from off the pace to collect her first graded victory in Friday's GII George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan S. at Pimlico. Lady Traveler (Quality Road) went to the front, leading Adventuring (Pioneerof the Nile) and 2-1 choice Beautiful Gift (Medaglia d'Oro) as Army Wife settled in a rail-skimming sixth early. Eagerly pulling herself into contention exiting the far turn, she checked slightly when trying to find room between the front-runner and Willful Woman (Nyquist), but quickly recovered. Swung out for the stretch drive, the Three Diamonds Farm runner produced the strongest turn of foot late, rolling home by 2 3/4 lengths over Willful Woman. Lady Traveler took third. It was 10 lengths back to Forever Boss (Tapiture) in fourth. Favored Beautiful Gift was seventh.

Army Wife gave Maker his second consecutive stakes win of the day following Last Judgement (Congrats)'s front-running win in the GIII Pimlico Special S.

“They looked like they had a good pace in the beginning,” said winning rider Joel Rosario. “I thought was going to be forwardly placed, but the way they were moving, I was a little farther back.”

He added, “It was a decision that I had to make because they were coming back a little bit in front of me and I had horse. I decided I needed to go because I had some room to go and just let her run her race like she always does.”

When asked about the beaten favorite, Bob Baffert assistant Jimmy Barnes said, “Obviously, we are disappointed. We thought she would run a little better than that. Johnny [Velazquez] said that when he needed horse he just didn't have it. We'll wrap things up and probably head back to California with her.”

Army Wife finished fifth sprinting on the turf at Belmont last October before closing from off the pace to score by 3/4 of a length while stretching to seven panels at Churchill Oct. 25. Runner-up behind subsequent Trapeze S. winner Oliviaofthedesert (Bernardini) in a one-mile optional claimer at the Louisville oval in November. Given a freshener after that, she returned with a nose win at Gulfstream Mar. 13 prior to the nine-furlong Gazelle.

 

Pedigree Note:

Army Wife gives her sire Declaration of War his 19th graded winner. The winner's dam Thread is a half-sister to Grade I winner Furiously and to Dancinandsigin, dam of Grade II winner and Scherzinger (Tiz Wonderful). Subsequent to the Black-Eyed Susan victress, she produced her most recent live foal, a Jimmy Creed filly, in 2019.

Friday, Pimlico
GEORGE E. MITCHELL BLACK-EYED SUSAN S.-GII, $250,000, Pimlico, 5-14, 3yo, f, 1 1/8m, 1:49.63, ft.
1–ARMY WIFE, 120, f, 3, by Declaration of War
1st Dam: Tread, by Arch
2nd Dam: Scoot Yer Boots, by Seeking the Gold
3rd Dam: Whirl Series, by Roberto
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($50,000 Ylg '19 FTKFEB; $190,000 2yo '20 OBSAPR). O-Three Diamonds Farm; B-J D Stuart & AR Enterprises Inc. (KY); T-Michael J Maker; J-Joel Rosario. $150,000. Lifetime Record: 8-3-1-2, $288,972.  Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Willful Woman, 120, f, 3, Nyquist–Foxy Danseur, by Mr. Greeley. ($400,000 Ylg '19 FTSAUG). O-Alex & JoAnn Lieblong; B-Clearsky Farms (KY); T-Steven M Asmussen. $50,000.
3–Lady Traveler, 120, f, 3, Quality Road–Ask the Question, by Silver Deputy. ($350,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-West Point Thoroughbreds, John A Ballantyne, William T Freeman & Michael Valdes; B-Hidden Brook Farm, Candy Meadows LLC & Chris Swann (KY); T-Dale L Romans. $25,000.
Margins: 2 3/4, 1 1/4, 10. Odds: 4.50, 13.30, 18.30.
Also Ran: Forever Boss, Miss Leslie, The Grass Is Blue, Beautiful Gift, Adventuring, Iced Latte, Spritz.  Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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