The Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (Grade 2)- $250.000 Purse
PIM- For Fillies Three Years Old
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
May 17, 2019
PRK weekend is upon us, and while the focus of all the chatter will be on Beach Dandy’s effort to win the second jewel, the ladies get their chance on Friday. The Black-Eyed Susan often sees many fillies who were successful on the KYO trail, but not quite good enough to take part in the Oaks. With them, we also mix in some talented up and comers who are looking for a big result to catapult their career as the season moves forward. This gives us a field of seven for the race. In 2018, the race saw a dead heat between Blue Jeans and Jinxed Queen. Blue Jeans has not won since, but has come close on many occasions. Jinxed Queen, meanwhile, won two Grade 1’s afterward, the CCA Oaks and the Personal Ensign. Let’s look at our runners for this race.
#1- Chais Princess (LionKing Stables, ridden by J Talamo)- Despite prior trainer, Aml Racing, claiming she had no shot in her last race, Chais Princess overcame that and won the SA Oaks, a Grade 1 at odds of 40/1. It was just the second win of her career. A week later, she was sold, and is now part of LionKing Stables. She’ll have to prove to some that it wasn’t a fluke, and it’d be interesting to see her follow that up with a win here as well.
#2- Ghost In The Shell (Spankys Barn, ridden by D Van Dyke)- Took a little while to break her maiden, and was sold in the December auction without a lot of fanfare, being purchased by Spankys Barn for $14.120. After two wins at SA, her maiden, then an allowance, she is taking a big step forward here. Worked well about two weeks ago at SA, and will have to show some improvement to have a chance here. It looks like she may be headed in that direction.
#3- Realize (Gdp Inc, ridden by R Bejarano)– The trainer had one of the two winners last year, and would love for Realize to follow Jinxed Queen’s lead. She would follow the same path, since Jinxed Queen also came out of the Gazelle, but the difference is that Jinxed Queen won that race. Realize ran seventh. Gdp In paid $220.000 to acquire her last November, so he’d like to see the filly realize her potential.
#4- Innocent Approach (Mb Stables, ridden by T Gaffalione)- She also comes out of the SA Oaks, just like Chais Princess, but ended up passing on the KYO. In that race, Innocent Approach got her picture taken with the winner, but it is certainly true with that finish that one only remembers who won the race. It was a much needed result after she threw up a dud in the $250.000 Busher right before that. I like her at this distance, and even more so if she comes from off the pace.
#5- Distorted Express (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by S X Bridgmohan)- Has won just one of eleven career races, but has a good history of running in some top graded events. They are simply not the best race lines in her past performances. She has run in allowances recently, and its hard to bee too excited in her third place run in a four horse CD N1X allowance three weeks ago. Overall, she has some solid ungraded runs, but something is likely being changed up for this on.
#6- Cover Girl (Aml Racing, ridden by K J Desormeaux)- When the trainer voiced is pre-SA Oaks opinion of Chais Princess, it was Cover Girl as the one the felt was the better horse. She only managed sixth from her outside post. Now that they are in different stables, it will be an interesting race within the race to see which of these beats out the other. Perhaps, they will be in a photo finish at the wire.
#7- Book Of Aggravation (Estero Farms, ridden by J R Velazquez)- This is a filly that has been successful, but lacks that one signature win. She’s been close a few times at the graded level, including finishing second in a photo in February to Panentheism in the Grade 2 Alexandria. Unfortunately, she was not able to build on that, and while she was competitive, it kept her out of the KYO. This might be her time to get it done.
Prediction: 7-4-1-3
— NS
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
