My mom grew these pretty flowers in her yard, right here in Kentucky, but they happen to be Maryland’s state flower and also the name sake, for the second jewel of the de facto Filly Triple Crown, the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes.
Friday, 5/15/15, Pimlico Race Course will host the 91st running of this race. At 4:50 p.m. EST in race 11, nine 3 year old fillies will compete to make history and a $250,000 purse, the smallest amount in 4 years. Pimlico is located in Baltimore, Maryland. This race was created in 1919 and at that time was called the Pimlico Oaks. It wasn’t until 1952 that the name was changed to the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, named for this 13 petaled flower representing MD as one of the 13 original colonies. They made a drink by that name as well, The Black-Eyed Susan Recipe. This dirt race is 1 and 1/8 miles or 9 furlongs. It 1st became a graded race in 1973 and has held Gr. II since 1976. The fastest time is 1:41:20 and the largest win is by 9 lengths.
The Filly Triple Crown is generally comprised of the Kentucky Oaks held at Churchill Downs, the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes and the Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park. Some may argue that this isn’t the correct line up but these are the three races that match the counterparts to the Triple Crown; The Kentucky Derby, The Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. There are other important filly races and New York has there own Triple Tiara too. There have only been 3 horses to win the Filly Triple Crown. Those were Wistful in 1949, Real Delight in 1952 and Davona Dale in 1979. Each of these Thoroughbreds were bred and owned by Calumet Farm in Lexington, KY. Nellie Morse ran and won the Pimlico Oaks and the Preakness stakes back in 1924. She was the fourth filly to win the Pimlico Oaks and no filly did that again until 2009, she is Rachel Alexandra, also born in Lexington,KY.
This year’s Black-Eyed Susan Stakes isn’t just about one race. It got its own day! The 1st post starts a 12 p.m. and for just $10, those who attend, get 14 races, 7 of those being stakes races, and 5 live bands. I love living in the horse capital of the world but now would be a great time to visit Baltimore. The Maryland Jockey group developed Empowerment 3600 to make this day “The Ultimate Girls Day Out” by partnering with groups year round for development of healthier and happier lives. They chose to fund raise for Susan G. Komen, for breast cancer and Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, for retired horses. The bands are the Gin Blossoms, Fuel, Vertical Horizon, The Reagan Years, and Margaret Valentine. The final race of the day is the Pimlico Special. This is a Gr. III race for horses 3 and older. This year all ten contenders are 4 and 5 years of age. The race is 1 and 3/16 or 9.5 furlongs on the dirt. This is the same race that Seabiscuit beat War Admiral in, back in 1938. There are some good betting opportunities this day. The Black-Eyed Susan Stakes has a gifted field, so anything could happen there and the day holds two 50 cent pick 4s and one 50 cent pick 5 with guaranteed pools. Also, there is a daily double that flows into the following day for the Preakness.
So, what about this gifted field, all bred in Kentucky, listed in post position…
- Danessa Deluxe
- Pure
- Ahh Chocolate
- Gypsy Judy
- Include Betty
- Sweetgrass
- Devine Aida
- Luminance
- Keen Pauline
Danessa Deluxe is the second favorite. She has just 1 start this year in which she placed in a Gr. II. She has had 6 starts total. This race will be long for her. Pure has 3 starts in 2015 and 7 lifetime. She won her maiden in San Anita last month. Ahh Chocolate won her race at Keeneland and she is undefeated but has only had 2 starts total. She is the third favorite and runs off the pace. Gypsy Judy has had her eye on this race for sometime. She is slower but of 5 starts she has won twice, placed once and showed once. Include Betty is the only horse in this race that just ran 2 weeks ago in the Kentucky Oaks. That makes her our only hope for a Filly Triple Crown this year. She finished 8th in the Oaks after getting bumped and running into too much traffic. She finished 7 lengths behind the winner, Lovely Maria, who shares her same owner. Include Betty has had 8 starts and is a graded stakes winner. She is the 1st horse to run this race following the Oaks since 2010. She likes to run from behind and this is the horse I want to see win. Sweetgrass, with 4 starts has 2 wins and 2 shows. Her last race was at Keeneland where she won. Devine Aida has 6 races in her past in which she was 1st four times and 2nd once as well. She is a multiple stakes winner. Luminance is the favorite. She is trained by Bob Baffert. He pulled her out of contention for the KY Oaks pretty late saying he intended to enroll her in this race and the Acorn. She has a stellar pedigree. She likes to jump up front then sit off the pace. In 3 starts she has 2 wins and one place. Finally, we have Keen Pauline. She has the same jockey, Javier Castellano, as last years winner, Stopchargingmaria. She has no wins of 2 starts this year but in her last 4 races she ran 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in that order.
Cheers to the ladies. I’m pulling for the Filly Triple Crown!
Update! There will not be a Filly Triple Crown winner this year. Congratulations to Keen Pauline!
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