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Year in Review Santa Anita opening day HK Cup Entries Hong Kong Cup works Hollywood Derby Day |
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 Jose Lezcano and Acting Happy return after winning the Black-Eyed Susan |
The filly counterpart to the Preakness is the $175,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2), held on the Friday before Preakness day. The 27,609 in attendance enjoyed a mostly sunny day with temperatures in the high 80's, with the forecasted rains holding off until after the completion of the card. A field of nine 3-year-old fillies went to post in this 1 1/8 mile trip over the main track at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, with Tidal Pool sent off as the 2-1 favorite off a third place finish in the Kentucky Oaks last out. In to challenge her included 5-2 second choice Seeking the Title, coming off a third place finish in the Fair Grounds Oaks, and 4-1 third choice Harissa, winner of the Sunland Park Oaks.
 Acting Happy starts to draw away in the stretch. |
Jockey Rajiv Maragh sent 23-1 Khancord Kid to the lead first time past the stands and she set early fractions of 23.78, 47.54, and 1:11.43 while being stalked by 10-1 Acting Happy a length behind. With 3 1/2 furlongs remaining, 6-1 Diva Delite, who was 7th at the time, clipped heels with 38-1 C C's Pal and fell, causing Seeking the Title to stumble over her and dump her jockey. Entering the stretch, Khancord Kid tired allowing Acting Happy to inherit the lead at the 3/16 pole, getting the mile in 1:36.70. 8-1 No Such Word, who was 8th early, put in a strong rally late but was left with too much ground to make up, as Acting Happy cruised under the line 1 1/2 lengths in front in 1:50.00. It was another 2 1/4 lengths back to favorite Tidal Pool third.
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 4 Acting Happy Lezcano 22.20 10.80 5.80 1 No Such Word Thompson 9.00 5.60 6 Tidal Pool Borel 2.60 Winning Time: 1:50.00 $2 Exacta 4-1 166.80 $2 Trifecta 4-1-6 640.20 $1 Superfecta 4-1-6-5 1,532.20 $2 Super High Five 4-1-6-5-3 20,388.60 |
Left: Acting Happy heads to the winner's circle. Her jockey Jose Lezcano said, “I rode the filly one time for them and I think she didn’t like to get dirt in her face. I looked at the races all day and I saw that they were running near the front. I let her go comfortably near the front. She gave me a good kick before the wire. I always liked this filly. The last 3/16 I felt comfortable and I thought she’d kick out. She had something left.”
Right: Acting Happy heads back to the barn after the race.
Left: Acting Happy comes over to the paddock before the race. Her trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. said, “The reason why I picked this spot is the longer the distance the better for her. And she’s 2 turns also. I didn’t want to mess around with any 1-turns with her. I’ve always liked this horse. As you can see, I ran her 1 1/8 her first start. She’s probably the best filly I’ve ever had. I just can’t wait to see more of her. I’m going to target the Alabama. I don’t care if I don’t run her back until then. I’m not saying that’s what we’ll do, but we will target that race and we’ll just kind of float and glide along as we go.
Right: Acting Happy in the post parade.
Second place finisher No Such Word in the post parade. Her trainer Cindy Jones said, “It got a little tight on the turn. You can’t give up that kind of ground and try to run them down.” Jockey Terry Thompson added, “I was real happy with the way she rushed up. I kind of got shuffled out around the turn and I lost a little bit there. But she came on and ran a great race."
Right: Third place finisher and beaten favorite Tidal Pool in the post parade. Her trainer D. Wayne Lukas said, “I thought we ran a good race. It might be a little further than she wants, but she did run a good race.” Jockey Calvin Borel added, “No excuses. She broke clean and ran good. She tried hard and gave it her all to the end.”
Trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. comes back from the winner's circle with the flower blanket for the Black-Eyed Susan winner, although they never actually put the flowers on her.
Right: There were two horses who lost their riders in the race. Diva Delite clipped heels with C C's Pal and lost jockey Julien Leparoux at the 3 1/2 furlong pole, then Seeking the Title stumbled over her and lost jockey Kent Desormeaux. Here outrider Eddie Przybyla catches Seeking the Title right in front of the winner's circle after the race. Both riders escaped injury.
The Legends for the Cure race, a typical $30,000 allowance for older horses going 6 furlongs, featured eight retired female jockeys coming back to raise money for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. As well, the race will be used as the climax of a feature documentary titled "Jock" about the first generation of female riders. Left: All the jockeys for the Lady Legends. From left to right, they are Mary Russ Tortora, Andrea Seefeldt Knight, Barbara Jo Rubin, Jennifer Rowland Small, Mary Wiley Wagner, Cheryl White, Gwen Jocson, and P.J. Cooksey.
Full results chart from DRF
Right: Gwen Jocson wins aboard Honor in Peace. Mary Wagner aboard 15-1 Mass Destruction set all the pace and had the lead to the 3/16 pole before her mount tired to eventually finish fourth. Gwen Jocson aboard 3-1 second choice Honor in Peace came out to pass the pacesetter, and drew off to win by 2 3/4 lengths over Andrea Seefeldt and 7-2 third choice Chapel of Love. Mary Russ Tortora aboard 2-1 favorite Rasher was third.
Gwen smiles at the fans as she heads on on the track and from the post parade. Jocson, who won 763 races between 1989 and 1999 on the Philadelphia Park-Atlantic City circuit, said, "I thought I was on a rocket. When the gates, opened, all I felt was horse. When I came around the turn the horses around me were stopping so I made the lead. Then I was looking for the finish line, which looked like it was a long way. I’m lucky I didn’t fall off around the 1/8 pole. It's been 10 years since I last rode (in a race) but I've been galloping horses in the mornings." She is an exercise rider for John Servis, the trainer of 2004 Derby and Preakness winner Smarty Jones.
The $50,000 Ms. Pink Warrior Preakness Stakes saw just 5 three-year-old fillies sprint 6 furlongs on the main track. 6-5 favorite Argent Affair battled for the lead with 5-1 High Five Gal and 3-2 second choice Vindy City down the backstretch through fractions of 22.66 and 45.58. The pace battle continued but in the final furlong, Vindy City shook off the competition to win by a length over late-running 7-1 Imanheiress in 1:11.72. Favorite Argent Affair finished another 1 1/4 lengths back in third.
Winning trainer John Servis said, “There was a little bit of speed in there and because of that, we decided to try a something a little different with her. Kendrick said that he picked her up going into the turn and she jumped right into the bridle. He said once she did that, he knew he was going to be tough to beat from there.” Jockey Kendrick Carmouche added, “We wanted to take her off the pace and then go to the lead. Our game plan worked. She ran a lot better race than she had been her last three. John Servis is a pretty good trainer off the layoff, and we were aiming toward the race. She was tight and ready.”
Full results chart from DRF
The $50,000 Jim McKay Turf Sprint Stakes featured 9 older horses going 5 furlongs on the turf. 7-2 third choice Central City battled for the lead with 5-2 favorite Blue Sailor down the backstretch and around the turn through fractions of 21.40 and 43.97. Central City opened up by 2 lengths at the furlong marker and held off 9-2 fourth choice Sacred Journey late to win by a head in 56.18. It was 2 1/4 lengths back to 3-1 second choice Heros Reward third, while favorite Blue Sailor faded to fifth.
Winning trainer Ronny Werner said, “You can’t take much of a hold on him because of his throat. He’s pretty good, though. He’s pretty kind and relaxes up there. The rider just needs to hang on. We’ll keep him short. He’s got a throat on him. It’s the reason I run him short. It’s a shame. I’d give anything to have a good throat on him, because he could possibly be anything.” Jockey Julien Leparoux added, “He broke nice and ran comfortably in second. I didn’t want to take too much of a hold. At the 1/4 pole he really kicked in and I was pretty sure I was going to hold off Ramon.”
Full results chart from DRF
A field of 6 older fillies and mares contested the $70,000 Skipat Stakes over 6 furlongs on the main track. Even money favorite Lights Off Annie battled for the lead with 24-1 longshot What Time It Is through fractions of22.83 and 45.65. Entering the stretch, Lights Off Annie drew away from the field to win by 5 1/2 lengths over 11-1 Streetscape in 1:10.33. It was another 2 1/4 lengths back to 9-1 Beware of the Bop third.
Grant Wolfram, assistant to trainer Michael Hushion said, “That was pretty much the game plan. Rajiv got away from there in good order. The scratches helped. Without as much speed in there, he could kind of dictate things. It always gives her a little extra kick ant the end when she doesn’t have to work too hard too early.” Jockey Rajiv Maragh added, “It was pretty straight forward. She’s got a lot of natural speed. She wins most of her races on the lead, so the goal was to try to break her good, get her where she’s happy, and everything kind of worked out."
Full results chart from DRF
The first stakes race on the card was the $70,000 The Very One Stakes for older fillies and mares sprinting 5 furlongs on the turf. 9-10 favorite Starfish Bay battled for the lead with 2-1 second choice Canadian Ballet through fractions of 21.25 and 44.07. In mid-stretch, Starfish Bay opened up a 2 length lead and was all out to hold off late-running 12-1 Suzzona to win by a head in 56.56 over the firm turf. It was 1 1/4 lengths back to 65-1 longshot Kosmo's Buddy third.
Winning trainer Todd Pletcher said, “It was a good race for her. She didn’t break great but she recovered quickly. It took her three or four strides to get there. When she got there, she really dug in. She’s very fast.” Jockey John Velazquez added, “We just wanted to break and go, but she didn’t break very well. I helped her out a little and when she got the lead, she was a fighter.
Full results chart from DRF
The last race on Friday was the $70,000 Hilltop Stakes for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles on the turf. 9-5 second choice Smart Seattle battled for the lead with 6-5 favorite Potosina through a half in 49.07 and 3/4 in 1:12.76. Entering the stretch, 2-1 third choice Joharmony came out for room and surged to the front, drawing off late to win by 4 1/2 lengths over Potosina in 1:44.17. It was another 1 3/4 lengths back to 25-1 longest shot Kit Kats Luck third. However, Potosina was disqualified and placed 3rd by the stewards for interference when she came in on Kit Kats Luck at the 3/16 pole.
Winning trainer Leigh Delacour said, “We’re very happy with how she ran today and we’re very happy with the way she finished. She came out of the last race at Keeneland very proud of herself and in good form, sound and content. We could not be happier with the way she came into today.” Jockey Javier Castellano added, “That was a perfect trip. The slow pace set up nice for me. I saved ground around the first turn and through the backside. When (Potosina) took off, I swung out and let (Joharmony) her go. Off the turn, she responded nicely and was full of run and finished well.”
Full results chart from DRF
Another feature of the Friday before the Preakness is the $50,000 Pimlico Jockey Challenge, with the 8 riders competing in 4 designated races to score points in a 12-6-4-3 format. Javier Castellano, who officially won the 3rd Challenge race and was second in the 1st Challenge race behind a non-Challenge participant rider, was the winner of the $14,000 first place check. From left to right, the jockeys are: John Velazquez, Jeremy Rose, Rosie Napravnik, Julien Leparoux, Garrett Gomez, Ramon Dominguez, Kent Desormeaux, and Javier Castellano.
To the right is winning jockey Javier Castellano aboard Squabble who won the third leg of the challenge for him. He said, “It feels so great. I had a great year last year and got beat in the last race. I’m so excited to get it done today. For me, it worked out great. All my horses, they ran pretty good. They responded pretty well today.” The final score was Castellano with 24 points, Desormeaux with 22, Velazquez 15, Dominguez 12, Leparoux 11, Rose 7, Gomez 6, and Napravnik 3. The Challenge brought together eight riders who have won nine Eclipse Awards, 10 Triple Crown races, 23 Breeders’ Cup races, as well as more than 23,000 races and $1 billion in purses overall. Five of the eight who competed ranked in the top 10 in the country this year in purse earnings.
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