Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (Grade 2) Preview

Likely Winners

#8 Luminance (KY) – I’ve liked this one since last summer, and would have strongly considered her if she has ran in the Kentucky Oaks.  Her early speed should get her clear of all of her rivals in this one, it will just be a matter of her staying the distance.  I could understand those who might question that she can, but I am willing to give her another chance going long.  Didn’t think she ran terrible last time out when she lost to Stellar Wind in the Santa Anita Oaks.  Just needs to get to the lead and relax this time.

#1 Danessa Deluxe (KY) – Last time out in the Gulfstream Park Oaks she was very impressive as she nearly beat two Kentucky Oaks runners in Eskenformoney and Birdatthewire.  What’s even more impressive is that was her first start since the Delta Princess in November!  That was asking a lot to have her fire huge off that kind of a layoff, but she was up to the task.  You would think she would improve off of that effort today and run even bigger in this spot.  Dangerous player…especially if the pace is hot.

Exotic Plays

#7 Devine Aida (KY) – She looked like a rising superstar until she put in a poor performance in the Gulfstream Park Oaks last time out.  Before that race she had won four in a row very easily, however two of them came on the turf and one of them was over a sloppy track.  Can she ship outside of Florida and run well on the dirt?  That’s a question mark, but the talent is definitely there.  She’s a bit of a mystery at this point.

#6 Sweetgrass (KY) – Winner of two in row comes in off a nice Keeneland win at 7 furlongs where she looked to have a little left in the tank after the wire.  Her breeding suggests she’s ready for the stretch out in distance, and her speed numbers are comparable to these.  Not sure she can win it, but should run fairly well.

Party Crashers

#3 Ahh Chocolate (KY) – A perfect two for two so far in her young career with both wins coming at different tracks.  This will be her third different track today so it’s nice to know she can ship and win.  After she stretched out so nicely at Keeneland last time out this become a logical race for her, as she improved tremendously off of her maiden win.  If she can get some pace to run at she could pick them all off late and pull the upset.

Throw Outs

#2 Pure (KY) – It took seven tries for her to break her maiden, but the competition she was running against wasn’t horrible.  Tough next step up the ladder today…will have to improve tremendously.

#4 Gypsy Judy (KY) – Won two in a row at Laurel Park before getting beat by a fairly large margin in a Stakes last time out.  The off track probably hurt her chances in that one, but even with a line drawn through that one it doesn’t seem like she’s cut out for this group.

#5 Include Betty (KY) – Never been a fan of this one even though she did win the biggest filly race at my home track of Oaklawn Park.  The fillies at Oaklawn weren’t very strong this year though, and she just hasn’t proven much outside of that race.

#9 Keen Pauline (KY) – Hasn’t shown much to warrant a lot of respect in this spot, but with a short field I don’t blame them for trying.  She does get Javier Castellano aboard so that is a plus.