Preakness 150: $300,000 Black-Eyed Susan (G2) Draws 28 Nominees for 101st Running

By David Joseph —-

$300,000 Black-Eyed Susan (G2) Draws 28 Nominees for 101st Running

BALTIMORE – Multiple graded-stakes winners Tenma and Quietside, both exiting the Kentucky Oaks (G1), and Complexity Jane, sporting a 3-0 record, are among 28 3-year-old fillies nominated to the $300,000 George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan (G2) May 16 at Pimlico Race Course.

The 101st running of the 1 1/8-mile Black-Eyed Susan highlights a spectacular 14-race program that includes six stakes, three graded, worth $1 million in purses that serves as a fitting prelude to the 150th Preakness Stakes (G1), the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown, May 17.

Debuting as the Pimlico Oaks in 1919, the race was not run from 1932-36 and 1950, returning in 1951 as the Black-Eyed Susan to honor both the Preakness and the Maryland state flower. Notable winners have included Nellie Morse, the only filly to also go on to win the Preakness, in 1924; and champions Vagrancy, Twilight Tear, But Why Not, Wistful, Real Delight, Office Queen, Davona Dale, Serena’s Song, Silverbulletday and Royal Delta.

Baoma Corp’s Tenma, trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, prompted the pace in the May 2 Kentucky Oaks and wound up fourth behind unbeaten Good Cheer. The daughter of Florida Derby (G1) and Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Nyquist won the Del Mar Debutante (G1) and Starlet (G2) at 2 and Las Virgenes (G3) and Santa Anita Oaks (G2) to start her sophomore season.

Shortleaf Stable, Inc.’s Quietside had a two-race win streak snapped when sixth in the Oaks, having captured the Honeybee (G3) and Fantasy (G2) in her prior starts. The Oaks was also Quietside’s only finish worse than third from eight tries including placings in the Spinaway (G1) and Alcibiades (G1) as a 2-year-old.

Golden Lion Racing’s Complexity Jane earned an automatic berth in the Black-Eyed Susan for her three-quarter-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile Weber City Miss April 19 at Laurel Park for Maryland’s leading trainer, Brittany Russell. She rallied for a 3 ¼-length debut victory Feb. 1 and finished second after setting the pace but was promoted to first in a one-mile optional claiming allowance March 2. Her stablemate, Repole Stable’s Reply, ran second and is also among the nominees.

The group also includes Bernieandtherose, a winner of four straight including back-to-back New York-bred stakes; two-time graded-stakes placed Liam in the Dust; Paris Lily, who beat Liam in the Dust last out to win a Keeneland optional claiming allowance April 6; stakes winners Princess Aliyah, Runnin N Gunnin, Safe Trust, Shkhara Fire and Simply Joking.

Heading the supporting stakes is the historic $250,000 Pimlico Special (G3) for 3-year-olds and up going the Preakness distance of 1 3/16 miles, which attracted 28 nominations led by defending champion Pyrenees, who went on to be second in the Stephen Foster (G1) and Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1); millionaires Disarm, First Mission, Red Route One – fourth in last year’s race – and Repo Rocks; and graded winners Antiquarian and Encino.

A total of 48 3-year-old fillies were nominated to the $150,000 Miss Preakess (G3) sprinting six furlongs. Most prominent among them is Vodka With a Twist, a stakes winner at 2 that has gone on to place in five graded-stakes, two of them Grade 1, including the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. She has faced Black-Eyed Susan nominee Tenma in her last two starts, finishing third in the April 5 Santa Anita Oaks (G2) in her lone start at 3.

Grade 1-winning millionaire filly Candied, third in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) in 2023 and 2024, tops 36 nominees to the $125,000 Allaire du Pont Distaff for fillies and mares 3 and up going 1 1/8 miles. Others include Gun Song (2024) and Taxed (2023), the past two winners of the Black-Eyed Susan; millionaires Hoosier Philly, Morning Matcha and Tarifa, and graded winners Dazzling Move and Occult.

The $100,000 Hilltop for 3-year-old fillies at one mile on the grass saw 49 nominations, among them Irish Group 3 winner Sigh No More, Grade 3-placed As Catch Can, and stakes winners Fionn, G W’s Girl, Hollywood Beauty, Kilwin, Me Governor, Pure Majestic, Running Away and White Rocks.

Forty fillies and mares 3 and up were nominated to the $100,000 The Very One sprinting five furlongs on the grass, among them Grade 3 winner Toupie and fellow multiple stakes winners Accomplished Girl, Bosserati, Loon Cry, Miss Harriett and Youalmosthadme; and 2024 The Very One runner-up Shoshanah.

Entries will be taken and post positions drawn for all Black-Eyed Susan Day stakes on Sunday, May 11.

About The Stronach Group and 1/ST

The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The Stronach Group’s 1/ST business (pronounced “First”) is North America’s preeminent Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering company and includes the 1/ST RACING & GAMING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY and 1/ST EXPERIENCE businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING & GAMING drives the best-in-class racing operations and gaming offerings at the company’s premier racetracks, training centers and premier events including: Santa Anita Park and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); Laurel Park, The Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the operating group for 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, TSG Global Wagering Solutions (GWS) and 1/ST TV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is racing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST EXPERIENCE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality through innovative content development, elevated national and local venue management and hospitality, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and procurement development. As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred racing on and off the track. The Stronach Group’s TSG Properties is responsible for the development of the company’s live, play and work communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). For more information email david.joseph@GulfstreamPark.com and visit www.1st.com or follow @1ST_racing on Twitter or @1stracing on Instagram and Facebook.