Bailey takes the initiative

BALTIMORE - Give Jerry Bailey an inch, and he'll take the race. Bailey expected to be sitting third in the early going of Friday's Grade 2, $200,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes with favored Chamrousse, but found himself the beneficiary of an eager filly, a moderate pace, a speed-favoring course, and the rail.

Bailey did the math. He allowed Chamrousse to press the early pace from the inside, then roused her aggressively when it was time to put away the stubborn Shop Till You Drop. Chamrousse drew away in

the final furlong, winning by 2 1/4 lengths to record the first graded stakes victory of her career.

Shop Till You Drop held on for second, two lengths in front of third-place Autumn Creek.

Chamrousse, the 3-5 favorite, returned $3.20 after covering 1 1/8 miles on Pimlico's fast main track in 1:51.61. The 3-year-old filly, a daughter of Peaks and Valleys, has now won three times in six starts.

Chamrousse, breaking from post 2, came away alertly and was inside Shop Till You Drop and Autumn Creek through an opening quarter-mile in 23.57 seconds. Bailey had committed Chamrousse to the front, and he was comfortable with his position.

"Watching the races, and knowing how the track was playing, I didn't want to take anything away from her that came easy," Bailey said. "She's probably better with a target, but the race just didn't come up that way."

Chamrousse was inside and head behind Shop Till You Drop through a half-mile in 47.57 seconds and six furlongs in 1:12.41. Autumn Creek was the first to retreat, at the top of the lane, and finally Shop Till You Drop yielded.

The race's disappointment was Charitabledonation, the 5-2 second choice. She dropped back in traffic on the turn to sixth and last, then passed tired horses to finish fourth.

Chamrousse was bred by Arthur Hancock III and is owned by Hancock and Jim Stone. Niall O'Callaghan trains the filly, who benefited from the early scratch of pre-race favorite Take Charge Lady.