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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Preakness Weekend To Feature 15 Stakes Worth $3.5 Million

Nine stakes–of which five are graded–worth $2.5 million in purses will highlight the 148th running of the GI Preakness S., which will be contested this year on Saturday, May 20. Overall, 15 stakes–including the 99th running of the GII Black-Eyed Susan S. on Friday, May 19–will be contested over two days of racing at Pimlico.

Other graded stakes on the Preakness undercard are the GIII $200,000 Dinner Party S. for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles on the grass, GIII $200,000 Chick Lang S. for 3-year-olds at six furlongs, the GIII $100,000 Maryland Sprint S. for 3-year-olds and up also racing three-quarters of a mile, and GIII $100,000 Gallorette S. for fillies and mares, three years old up going 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

The historic GIII $300,000 Pimlico Special for 3-year-olds and up, contested at the Preakness distance of 1 3/16 miles, and GIII $150,000 Miss Preakness S. for 3-year-old fillies sprinting six furlongs top the Black-Eyed Susan undercard.

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First Captain Turns In ‘Special’ Performance at Pimlico

'TDN Rising Star' First Captain (Curlin) looked to have it all to do with a quarter-mile to go in Friday's GIII Pimlico Special S., but he called on his class in the final 50 yards to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Adding blinkers for the first time off a disappointing seventh in the GI Carter H. Apr. 9, the $1.5-million joint-topper at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale was off alertly and settled in fifth position passing under the wire for the first time as recent Excelsior S. runner-up Untreated (Nyquist) led them along through a leisurely opening couple of furlongs in :24.99. Traveling comfortably enough down the backstretch, First Captain raced worse than midfield and was four off the inside and in the clear as the field entered the final half-mile, the pace still very much working against the back markers on a track that seemed to be carrying speed. The chestnut came under a Luis Saez ride with about three furlongs to run and looked to be one-paced at the top of the stretch, as Untreated was still enjoying a soft time of things up front. But, pulled out to the middle of the track, First Captain took aim on favored Vindictive (Uncle Mo)–who'd wrested command from his stablemate Untreated deep inside the final furlong–and fought on bravely to score by a short neck.

An impressive debut winner over seven furlongs last April, First Captain showed determination and poise well beyond his relative inexperience to add a first-level Belmont allowance en route to 'Rising Star' honors the following month. The chestnut made the GIII Dwyer S. his third win from as many appearances July 5, but he stubbed his toe when trying two turns for the first time in the restricted Curlin S. July 30 and was shelved. First Captain made a victorious comeback to the races in a seven-furlong test at Gulfstream Feb. 27, but was always outpaced in the Carter, finishing well down the field.

“I debated on the blinkers last year after the Curlin, but we didn't get that far,” said Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey. “We trained him in them here [at Belmont Park] and we liked what we saw. I saw him gallop here the other morning before he shipped and my thought was, 'If he runs the way he gallops, he's going to be pretty tough.' Obviously, he did.

McGaughey continued, “He had trained well. The Carter was a puzzler. All his other races were good; he's won five out of seven now with a third in a listed stakes. We were anxious to get him around two turns.”

Pedigree Notes:

Bobby Flay, who was also represented Friday by Hilltop S. winner Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), gained access to First Captain's booming female family when acquiring second dam Lacadena privately after she was led out unsold on a bid of $1.4 million at the 2007 Fasig-Tipton November Sale.

The fact that Lacadena, stakes-placed at two for Jim and Alice Sapara, would prove to be so coveted, was no surprise, particularly in the aftermath of the 2007 racing season. The mare's dam, Butterfly Blue, was a half-sister to Better Than Honour (Deputy Minister), whose daughter Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy), defeated First Captain's sire in a stirring renewal of the GI Belmont S., giving an unusually demonstrative trainer Todd Pletcher a first Classic success.

For her second covering, and to no one's surprise, Flay sent Lacadena to A.P. Indy and the mare foaled a filly in March 2011. The celebrity chef elected to retain that produce when bidding stalled out on her at $725,000 at Keeneland September in 2012, and the decision proved shrewd, as America would go on to win five times from 22 starts, including the GIII Turnback the Alarm H., and was third in the GI Delaware H. before retiring to Flay's boutique broodmare band in 2016.

Flay elected to send America to Curlin for her first date in the breeding shed and he must have been pleased with the result, as she returned to the Hill 'n' Dale star for the 2018 breeding season. She foaled a filly in January 2019, eight months before First Captain took his spot in the Humphrey S. Finney Sales Pavilion at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga, where he and a Curlin colt out of Wapi (Chi) (Scat Daddy) shared top honors when hammering for $1.5 million.

The family was given yet another advertisement in the summer of 2020, when Paris Lights (Curlin), a daughter of America's half-sister Paris Bikini (Bernardini), took out the GI Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga. Flay sold Lacadena to Heider Family Stables in foal to Bernardini for $1.3 million at Keeneland November in 2015, while Paris Bikini was hammered down to Katsumi Yoshida for $1.95 million in foal to Uncle Mo at Fasig-Tipton November in 2020.

America visited Uncle Mo in the winter of 2019 and was offered by Flay at that year's Fasig-Tipton November Sale. She was ultimately retained on a bid of $3.1 million. The resulting produce, a colt, was a $550,000 RNA at Keeneland September last fall, while America is responsible for a yearling full-sister to First Captain and a colt by Uncle Mo foaled Mar. 19. She was bred to Curlin again this season.

Friday, Pimlico
PIMLICO SPECIAL S.-GIII, $300,000, Pimlico, 5-20, 3yo/up, 1 3/16m, 1:56.24, ft.
1–FIRST CAPTAIN, 120, c, 4, by Curlin
1st Dam: America (GSW & MGISP, $580,532), by A.P. Indy
2nd Dam: Lacadena, by Fasliyev
3rd Dam: Butterfly Blue (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
'TDN Rising Star' ($1,500,000 Ylg '19 FTSAUG). O-West Point  Thoroughbreds, Siena Farm LLC, Bobby Flay & Woodford Racing LLC; B-B Flay Thoroughbreds (KY); T-Claude R McGaughey III; J-Luis Saez. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 7-5-0-1, $470,100. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*.
2–Vindictive, 120, c, 4, Uncle Mo–Exotic Bloom, by Montbrook.  1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($200,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP).  O-Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable, LLC & LNJ Foxwoods;  B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Todd A  Pletcher. $60,000.
3–Untreated, 120, c, 4, Nyquist–Fully Living, by Unbridled's  Song. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($550,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP;  $300,000 3yo '21 KEEJAN). O-Team Valor International LLC;  B-Ashview Farm & Old Oak Farm (KY); T-Todd A Pletcher.  $30,000.
Margins: HD, 1 1/4, 7 1/4. Odds: 5.00, 1.00, 4.00.
Also Ran: Workin On a Dream, Mohaafeth, Treasure Trove, Mischief Afoot, Excellorator, Capocostello, Forewarned. Scratched: Shooger Ray Too.
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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Successful Claim Last Judgment Leads Every Step Of Pimlico Special

The run of successful claims by trainer Mike Maker continued on Friday at Pimlico Race Course when Last Judgment, picked up for $62,500 last October, led at every point of call to win the Grade 3 Pimlico Special.

The 5-year-old Congrats gelding was taken straight to the lead from the outside post by jockey Jose Ortiz, and he crossed the wire for the first time a length and a half ahead of closest challengers Modernist, Cordmaker, and Treasure Trove. Last Judgment took the field into the first turn through an unrushed and untested opening quarter in :23.83 seconds, while the challengers continued to wait their turn.

Longshots Cordmaker and Treasure Trove started to draw closer to the leader on the outside through the first turn, but they soon retreated as they entered the back straightaway through a half in :47.60 seconds.

Ortiz continued to stand calmly in the irons across the backstretch as he was tracked by Treasure Trove and Modernist, and Cordmaker started to weaken, replaced by favorite Fearless.

Ortiz looked behind him started to ask for a little more with his hands as he entered the final turn with Last Judgment after six furlongs in 1:11.54. Modernist and Fearless remained as the only viable challengers as the field turned for home, and Ortiz brought out the crop for some mild urging in the final eighth of a mile, but it was hardly a panicked maneuver.

Neither of the challengers were able to find enough momentum to approach Last Judgment, and the gelding kicked on under a hand ride to win by 1 3/4 lengths. Modernist carried on for second, a neck ahead of Fearless, while Cordmaker continued on to finish fourth, 4 1/4 lengths further back.

Last Judgment completed the 1 3/16-mile Pimlico Special in 1:54.37 over a fast main track, paying $11.80 to win.

Maker saddled Last Judgment for the partnership of Michael Dubb, Steve Hornstock, Bethlehem Stables, and Nice Guys Stables. The Pimlico Special was Last Judgment's fifth start for his new owners since being claimed last October at Belmont Park. Since then, he's tallied wins in the Sunshine Classic Stakes, and the G3 Challenger Stakes, while also finishing second in the G3 Ghostzapper stakes at Gulfstream Park prior to the Pimlico Special.

Friday's race improved Last Judgment's record to eight wins in 18 starts for earnings of $502,965.

Last Judgment was bred in Florida by Woodford Thoroughbreds, out of the Forestry mare Fantasy Forest.

To view the race chart, click here.

$250,000 Pimlico Special (G3) Quotes

Winning Trainer Mike Maker (Last Judgment): “Very classy horse. We like the way he's responded on that stretch out. Fabulous [claim] by these guys (co-owners Steve Hornstock and Steve Spielman).”

“He's run well for us going a mile and an eighth. I was glad to stretch him out and hoped to get a softer pace going longer.”

“I was a little concerned about the outside post, but he doesn't care for the dirt in his face, so he was going to be in the clear anyway. If someone was hell-bent on the lead, so be it.”

“To be honest, I've never really thought about anything further than today. But with a nice horse, you always have a lot of options.” 

Winning Jockey Jose Ortiz (Last Judgment): “I thought I was going to get [to the lead], but I knew that if somebody else wanted to get there, I could sit off him, too. It was not like the last time, I cooked in front in 46 [seconds] and that cost me the race for sure. I had a good position. I knew that if he broke well from the gate I could get to the lead nicely. Or if he didn't break well I could sit second. But he broke really good.”

“It was a nice job by Mike [Maker]. He had him ready. The horse relaxed well. When I asked him he was there for me. That's all you can ask for.”

Jockey Junior Alvarado (Modernist; 2nd): “I had a beautiful trip. The horse that won the race was the only one with the speed, and I was tracking behind him the whole way. Turning for home, I took my shot at it, but that horse in front just kept going. I was in a beautiful spot. If I had to do it 100 times, I would have picked the same spot I was in. I was traveling very beautifully. The horse in front got away with a nice pace and he kept going.”

Trainer Todd Pletcher (Fearless; 3rd): “I thought he ran well. He got shuffled back a bit. He tried to move him outside into the clear, but it's tough when there's no pace to try to close much ground. I thought he put in a long sustained run. They just didn't come back.”

Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. (Fearless; 3rd): “On the backside, I knew the other horse [Last Judgment] was in control, so I started letting my horse pick it up. He made a long run. It was hard to get there. On the backside, he [Last Judgment] was running comfortable. I knew he was going to be hard to catch, so I started moving. It was a long run.”

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