5/15/26

  3   LRL   The Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (GII)

$300.00    3yoF   1^1/8m  Dirt       122lbs         

I’ve spent a LOT of time in this dump… too much.  But, some great memories like St. Chrisbee winning his final start here, or Shimatoree breaking maiden on a day that was bitter cold.  Well, that kid’s long gone, and this old man is all that’s left.  We look at the field of ten sophomore ladies set to go a mile and an eighth in The Black–Eyed Susan Stakes (GII). 

The Card and I are both set on West Coast Girls as the top selection today.  She’s been chasing the top TC horses and get’s back to her own gender today.  If she runs any of her recent efforts, I think it’s enough to come home a winner. 

I’m headed to the outside post and will try to nail-down the exacta with Sue Ellen.  She ran a big race in her first start for the new connections and I think they learn from that and have her ready for a top-notch outing in this one.  The Card goes with Belong To Me in the second spot and I can’t question that.  She looked good taking the Beaumont (GII) at KEE, and closed well to take that big race.  If she handles the distance, she’s another that deserves big look.  Best of Luck to all!!   

Here’s The Field – 

Finally ran a bad one in the Davona Dale (GII) at GP where she tired in the lane to end up eighth.  She broke maiden at FG then won the Santa Ynez at SA, so she’s certainly shown ability.  This class may be a bit more than she wants right now, but…

Has done her damage on the NM-bred circuit breaking maiden there and also winning the Foutz Distaff, both vs. state bred types.  Sharp outfit that knows horseflesh, so maybe she’s ready to take her abilities to the next level, but I’ll have to see it. 

Only a maiden win as far as having her picture taken, but she’s been close in a number of stakes including the Valdale at TP, the Santa Ysabel (GIII) at SA and the Gazelle (GIII) at AQU.  She’s closed well in all of those races, and may be sitting on a big run. 

Turned heads when she closed well to take the Beaumont (GII) at KEE, winning at 99/1 odds on that afternoon.  She broke maiden at FG and just missed vs. Alw types at HOU, so distance seems to be something she loves… this could be her coming out party.  Like that last race wasn’t enough.    

Got back to the winning ways last out taking the Honeybee (GIII) at OP.  She won a trio of stakes as a 2yo, including the Spinaway (GI).  She changed hands for a pretty sum, so maybe it just took a while to get the training back where it needed to be… either way, watch her.  She’s sharp. 

This one got her second lifetime score taking down Alw horses at KEE in her most recent.  This is an obvious step up in class, but she did show that she could take her speed around two turns and that could be a big factor, depending on how this LRL strip plays.  

Sure did look good taking the Davona Dale (GII) at GP, last out.  She had been getting weary in the lane going two turns, but the mile distance sure did seem to fit her well.  Can she learn from that and get the extra furlong?  There’s your question. 

Just missed vs. the boys in the VA Derby then tried them again in the BG Stakes (GI) at KEE with a bit less success.  So, it becomes… does she find this easier or did the boys take it out of her?  She was back on short rest as well… I’m not sure which way to go, but I think she will be the post time favorite. 

Broke maiden at DMR on soft turf and hasn’t won since, but she does have a trio of runner-up efforts, the best of which was last out in the SA Oaks (GII).  She was three back in that race and I think it’s going to take her very best to be a factor in this one. 

She never seems to run a bad race and showed something special when second in the GP Oaks (GII) last out.  That was her first start for this sharp outfit and she looks ready to run another big race… the distance, that could be the big question mark for her. 

Early withdraw

COZMAN  8 / 10       Willie’s Green Card   8 / 4         

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES