Black-Eyed Susan Stakes 2014 Contenders & Odds

Dave Bond | OTB Writer

Las Vegas, NV - The eyes of the horse racing world will be focused on Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland this Saturday but the graded stakes action starts Friday. The Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes will be contested for three year old fillies willing to go 1 1/8 miles on Pimlico's main track. A nice purse of $500,000 will be on the line.

A strong field of 11 three year old fillies have been confirmed for the Black-Eyed Susan - race 10 on Pimlico's Friday schedule. Post time is 4:47 PM. Here is a look into the past performances of all 11 combatants for this Grade 2 stakes.

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2014 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes Race Favorite Entries

Stopchargingmaria - Todd Pletcher trained filly is coming off fourth in the Grade 3 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park April 5 after a career worst performance - a fifth in the Grade 2 Davona Dale Stakes February 22, a terrific win in the Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct November 30, an equally impressive win by 10 3/4 lengths in the Grade 3 Tempted Stakes November 3, a third in the Grade 1 Frizette and a second in the Grade 1 Spinaway and a MSW score in her debut. She has three wins, a second and a third place finish in seven career starts but seems to be regressing after a promising start to her career. Javier Castellano will be in the saddle aboard the 122-pound highweight and the early 7-2 morning line favorite from post 4.

Sloane Square - Todd Pletcher trained filly lost for the first time in her career last time out but still posted a good second as favorite in the Grade 3 Bourbonette Oaks at Turfway Park March 22. Before that she had two starts and two wins by a combined 11 3/4 lengths - an Allowance at Calder February 21 and a MSW score in her debut at Gulfstream January 19. Sloane Square is highly regarded and is expected to make some noise Friday. Joel Rosario will be aboard from post 8 at 5-1 odds.

Black-Eyed Susan Stakes 2014 | Remaining Contenders

Joint Return - John Servis trained filly raced in graded stakes company for the first time March 29 and had her worst career effort - a fifth in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Oaks on a surface her trainer mentioned didn't suit the filly but bounced back most recently with a win in the minor Calder Oaks April 12. She had a 4 1/2 length win in the minor Busher Stakes at Aqueduct February 1 after a pair of wins at Parx this past winter and a third in her debut. She has won four of six career starts with a third place finish but will be looking to break through in graded stakes company for the first time Friday. Kendrick Carmouche has the call from the rail at 15-1 odds.

Fortune Pearl - H Graham Motion trained filly has two wins and two second place finishes in five career starts but races in stakes company for the first time Friday. She is coming off an Allowance Optional Claiming score on this track May 2 after a fifth and a second respectively in a pair of Starter Optional Claiming races at Gulfstream. Fortune Pearl will have Trevor McCarthy in the reins from post 9.

Euphrosyn - has placed in all seven career starts for trainer Steve Asmussen - two wins, four seconds and a third place finish. Last time out was an OK third in the Grade 3 Fantasy Stakes April 5 after a win by disqualification in her graded stakes debut - the Grade 3 Honeybee at Oaklawn in March. She has two wins, a second and a third place finish in four starts this year and looks like a contender for the Black-Eyed Susan. Ricardo Santana will be in the saddle from gate 5.

Image of Anna - has just four career starts for trainer Richard Violette but enters on a two race win streak - an Allowance at Aqueduct April 16 and a maiden score by 7 3/4 lengths on that same track in March. She makes her stakes debut Friday with Luis Saez in the saddle from the outside post.

Black-Eyed Susan Stakes betting online at Pimlico Race Course with OffTrackBetting.com

America - legendary trainer Bill Mott will send out America who broke maiden in her second start - at Belmont Park October 9 and went on to a fifth in the Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct November 30 and another fifth in the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride Stakes on grass March 2. Last time out was a respectable third in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Oaks March 29. She has placed in just two of five starts thus far but is coming off of one of those efforts. America will have John Velazquez in the saddle from post 2 Friday.

Arethusa - is coming off a somewhat disappointing fifth in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks April 5 after a third behind Fashion Plate in the Grade 1 Las Virgenes Stakes February 1, a fifth in her graded stakes debut - the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet December 7 at Hollywood Park and a win in her stakes debut - the Sharp Cat Stakes on that same track November 16. Prior to those results were three MSW races which produced a second and a third place finish. She has a win, a second and two third place finishes in seven career starts but has fifth place finishes in two of her last three starts. Rosie Napravnik gets the call from gate 6.

La Mejor Fiesta - Wesley Ward pupil has placed in four of six career starts - the only off the board finish coming last time out - a fourth in the Grade 3 Bourbonette Oaks and in the minor Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies Stakes in September. She had a win two back in the minor Trapeze Stakes at Remington Park December 15 after a third in an Allowance at Keeneland in October. Her other win was a MSW in her debut in June which preceded a second in the minor Tippett Stakes at Colonial Downs in July. Victor Espinoza rides from gate 7 in La Mejor Fiesta's second start on dirt.

Shanon Nicole - is coming off an ugly eighth in the Grade 3 Bourbonette Oaks March 23 after a decent third in the Grade 3 Rachel Alexandra Stakes at Fair Grounds February 22 and a win and a second place finish respectively in a pair of Allowance Optional Claiming races on that same track this past winter. Her first graded stakes action came in October - an eighth in the Grade 3 Jessamine Stakes. Shanon Nicole has two wins, three seconds and a third place finish in nine career starts for trainer Michael Maker. Mike Smith gets the mount from post 3.

Vero Amore - has seven career starts with two wins, two seconds and a third place finish - the seconds coming in minor stakes action t Aqueduct - the Ruthless Stakes January 12 and the Busher Stakes February 1. This after two straight wins at Parx. She made her graded stakes April 5 and finished fourth in the Grade 2 Gazelle having placed in her previous five starts overall - including a third against males in an Allowance March 2. Jockey Frankie Pennington picks up the mount from post 10.


2014 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes Entries & Odds

Race 10 on Pimlico's Friday card with a Post Time of 4:47 PM.

Entry Horse Jockey Trainer ML Odds
1 Joint Return K. Carmouche J. Servis
15-1
2 America J. Velazquez W. Mott
8-1
3 Shanon Nicole M. Smith M. Maker
6-1
4 Stopchargingmaria J. Castellano T. Pletcher
7-2
5 Euphrosyne R. Santana, Jr. S. Asmussen
4-1
6 Arethusa R. Napravnik E. Harty
8-1
7 La Mejor Fiesta V. Espinoza W. Ward
20-1
8 Sloane Square J. Rosario T. Pletcher
5-1
9 Fortune Pearl T. McCarthy H. Motion
12-1
10 Vero Amore F. Pennington R. Reid, Jr.
15-1
11 Image of Anna L. Saez R. Violette, Jr.
20-1