Black-Eyed Susan

Eight fillies have been entered to go nine furlongs on Friday in the $250,000
Black-Eyed Susan S. (G2), the counterpart to Saturday’s Preakness S. (G1), at
Pimlico, and the field features a prominent runner from the Kentucky Oaks (G1)
two weeks prior. However, we’ll go with a fresh filly to take this one.

REGAL ENGAGEMENT (Cat Thief) broke her maiden by seven lengths in January
before taking the Busher S. at Aqueduct in her stakes debut. The Thomas
Bush-trained lass garnered a 95 BRIS Speed rating for her black-type score as
well as a 112 BRIS Late Pace figure after rallying from near the back. In her next
one, the chestnut miss stayed closer to the pace at the beginning, taking over
by the half-mile point, but just missed at the wire by 1 1/4 lengths. For that
front-running effort, she earned a 108 BRIS E2 Pace rating, proving her ability
to stalk or lead in convincing fashion. Though Regal Engagement may not be as
experienced on the stakes level as others in here, she appears more than capable
of handling this field with Ramon Dominguez in the saddle.

SMART N PRETTY (Elusive Quality) has yet to finish worse than fourth in her
seven-race career, with her poorest performance to date coming in the Bonnie
Miss S. (G2) in early March. After that tiring run, she came back with a winning
effort in a Keeneland allowance and finished third in the La Troienne S. (G3)
going 7 1/2 furlongs. Though she’s raced mostly at shorter distances, we’re willing to
give the Dale Romans charge a shot in the exotics at a price. Richard Migliore
has the call.

SARATOGA DRIVE (Siphon [Brz]) looked a like strong contender in the
three-year-old filly ranks, but then made the mistake of running at Keeneland.
Throw out her Ashland S. (G1) effort and look at her previous race,
a three-quarter of a length second to Ashland winner Bushfire (Louis Quatorze).
That was by far a better indicator of Saratoga Drive’s abilities, as her Speed
numbers also uphold. The bay miss worked a half-mile in a bullet :47 on Sunday
and could challenge in the top three under Javier Castellano.

SHE’S AN ELEVEN (In Excess [Ire]) was never far back while trying to break
her maiden, finally doing so at Santa Anita two back. That dominating 11
1/4-length victory earned her a 92 Speed rating, something she improved
upon when taking the Melair S. by 9 1/4 lengths going 1 1/16 miles most recently. For
her first stakes score, the dark bay filly posted a 97 Speed figure, and she
worked a bullet three-quarters in 1:11 2/5 last Saturday. She’s An Eleven
remains a threat to continue her streak here, but the California-bred will be
stepping up to face open company for the first time. GASIA (Silver Deputy) also brings a two-race win
streak into the Black-Eyed Susan, taking an allowance/optional claimer and the
Instant Racing Game Breeders’ Cup S. in her past two at Oaklawn Park. The
chestnut’s numbers may be a bit lower than we like, but she could still earn a
share.

BAGHDARIA (Royal Academy) will be making her first start here for trainer Tom
Amoss, and we’ll give her a few races to get acclimated to her new home. CRYSTAL
CURRENT (A.P. Indy) doesn’t look fast enough to keep up with these.

RED CHERRIES SPIN (With Approval) ran a good race in the Oaks, taking the
lead in the stretch before being bumped hard and falling back to finish sixth. She
was moved up to fifth via the disqualification of one of her rivals in the Oaks, and
was entered for Friday’s race, but will probably sit this one out on the
two-week break, according to reports from trainer Bernie Flint.