Undefeated Faiza leads field of 12 for Black-Eyed Susan

The unbeaten Faiza drew post 9 for Friday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes for 3-year-old fillies traveling 1 1/8 miles at Pimlico.

The Black-Eyed Susan is one of three graded stakes on the 14-race program, with the Grade 3, $250,000 Pimlico Special for 3-year-olds and up at 1 3/16 miles and the Grade 3, $150,000 Miss Preakness for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs. First post is 11:30 a.m.

Pimlico also offers three $100,000 stakes, with the Allaire duPont for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles, the Hilltop for 3-year-old fillies at one mile on turf, and The Very One for fillies and mares at five furlongs on turf.

Faiza, trained by Bob Baffert for Michael Lund Petersen, captured the Grade 1 Starlet as a 2-year-old at Los Alamitos and has scored three graded victories in 2023, including the Santa Anita Oaks on April 8. The Girvin filly will be ridden by Flavien Prat in the field of 12.

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Hoosier Philly (post 3, Edgar Morales), a highly touted Grade 2 winner last year, looks to rebound from a couple of disappointing starts at Fair Grounds this winter for trainer Tom Amoss.

The Black-Eyed Susan field, from the rail out, consists of Sacred Wish (John Velazquez), Pate (Jose Ortiz), Hoosier Philly, Merlazza (Feargal Lynch), Frosty O’Toole (Joel Rosario), Miracle (Irad Ortiz Jr.), Comparative (Luis Saez); Balpool (Manny Franco), Faiza, Taxed (Rafael Bejarano), Cats Inthe Timber (Jevian Toledo), and Towhead (Tyler Gaffalione).

◗ Grade 1 winner Rattle N Roll (post 2, Prat), who recently captured the Grade 3 Ben Ali Stakes at Keeneland, headlines a competitive edition of the Pimlico Special along with Law Professor (post 5, Franco) and recent Grade 3 winner Clapton (post 3, Junior Alvarado).

◗ Multiple stakes winner Key of Life (post 2, Prat) enters the Miss Preakness for trainer Brad Cox following a neck victory in the Grade 2 Beaumont at Keeneland. Her main competition could come from Maple Leaf Mel (post 6, Rosario), a New York-bred who is unbeaten in three starts against restricted competition.

Trainer bonuses

For the seventh consecutive year, the Maryland Jockey Club offers bonus money totaling $100,000 to trainers who run a minimum of five horses in the 15 Thoroughbred stakes during Preakness weekend. The trainer with the most points will receive $50,000, second is worth $25,000, third $12,000, fourth $7,000, fifth $4,000, and sixth $2,000.

Points are accumulated for finishing first (10 points), second (seven), third (five), fourth (three), and having a starter (one).

There also is bonus money totaling $50,000 for trainers with the most points in non-stakes races. The points are accumulated with $25,000 to the leader, $10,000 to second, $7,000 to third, $4,000 to fourth, $2,500 to fifth, and $1,000 to sixth. Trainers must start a minimum of three horses.

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