The Black Eyed Susan Stakes (Grade 2)- $300.000 Purse
PIM- For Fillies Three Years Old
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
May 17, 2024

Hobo Blues did not miss out on making the KYO field by much, but with none of the horses from that race making the trip to PIM for the Black Eyed Susan Stakes, she seemed like she would have a good shot. She would be our pick, and the betting public agreed, making her the post time favorite for the race. The filly by Final Delivery would not disappoint, running near the leader early on before taking the lead about halfway through and hanging on! Hobo Blues is trained by Alydar Stables, and it is their first win in the race. The jockey, J R Velazquez, has now picked up his fifth Black Eyed Susan win, having last won in 2022. Congratulations to them! The time of the win was 1:48.30, which is the fourth fastest in the race’s history. Let’s take a look at it now:

(½ Mile- :47.50)- A group of them try for the early lead, and TwinTowersRacing’s Double Zee is able to utilize her rail position to claim the top spot while moving around the turn and into the backstretch. License to Kill right beside her and within a half-length for Fractious, and running in the third lane here is our eventual winner from Alydar Stables, Hobo Blues. Soho Doubt will stalk the top three for Mb Stables, and running behind her are both Ragnar (D J C Racing Stables) and Plenty Of Profit (Riggins Racing), with Ghost Writer (Nakamura Stables). It’s a break of about four lengths to Your Next (TwinTowersRacing) at the back.

(3/4 Mile- 1:11.68)- Hobo Blues is not going to wait around to make her move, and is going to do it right here and now in the backstretch. In doing so, she is able to pull out by a length at the top of the turn over both License To Kill and Double Zee. Nothing wrong with how either of them were running, but they would not have an answer to Hobo Blues at this time. After the top three, Soho Doubt is still the best of the rest, but Plenty of Profit was looking to change that as she pulled up along the outside of that one. Ragnar and Ghost Writer were a length behind them, and Your Next had not done anything about her large deficit as of yet.

(Top of Stretch, 1.7F To Go)- They make their way around the turn with Hobo Blues looking good as she stretches her advantage to a length and a half. License To Kill is second still, but the biggest challenger was now looking like it would be Plenty Of Profit. However, that one had to take a wide trip around the final turn as she moved into the third spot. Double Zee was backing out of it. Soho Blues and Ragnar needed to get going with their push if they had it in them, and Ghost Writer was making it five wide. Your Next maybe gained a length or so in the turn but needed to do so much more.

(Finish- 1:48.30)- With a furlong to go, Hobo Blues was looking good but Plenty Of Profit was starting to respond with an additional run and that allows her to close in during the late stages of the race. This ended up being a lot closer than it seemed like it was going to be, but Hobo Blues does indeed hold on to grab that win, officially by a neck over Plenty Of Profit. Ghost Writer’s outside run gets her third, but she never threatened for more. The final piece of the purse goes to License To Kill, who beats Soho Doubt, Your Next, Ragnar, and Double Zee.

About The Winner- Hobo Blues, trained by Alydar Stables and ridden to victory by J R Velazquez, is a three-year-old filly by Final Delivery and is out of Stay Close. She was bred in West Virginia as a third quarter two-year-old by Panionios Racing and was picked up from that trainer in January for $300.000 in private sales. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her third in seven starts, her second stake win and first graded win. Her career earnings are now $390.230.

Track: Fast
Time: :47²  1:11³  1:36  1:48¹

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 5 – 6 Paid 12.50
$1 Trifecta: 5 – 6 – 4 Paid 331.20

Scratched: Elle

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES