Tidal Pool heads the field in the $175,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (gr. II) at Pimlico May 14 as the only 3-year-old filly in the field that ran in the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I).
Trained by D. Wayne Lukas, Westrock Stables' Tidal Pool ran a close third in the Oaks after setting the pace, finishing 2 3/4 lengths behind the victorious Blind Luck at odds of 9-1. Calvin Borel, who rode the daughter of Yankee Gentleman --Sea Rhythm, by Deputy Minister, in the Oaks, retains the mount in the Black-Eyed Susan.
Nine were entered in the Black-Eyed Susan, which like the Kentucky Oaks, is contested at 1 1/8 miles on dirt. The race headlines a full program of stakes races on the day before the Preakness Stakes (gr. I)
Tidal Pool, who ran second to Blind Luck in the Fantasy Stakes (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park prior to the Kentucky Oaks, approaches the Black-Eyed Susan in search of her first stakes victory. She owns a lifetime mark of 3-2-2 in 11 starts with earnings of $226,800.
Tidal Pool will break from post 6.
The Black-Eyed Susan shakes out as an even affair.
Florida Oaks (gr. III) winner Diva Delite, trained by Ian Wilkes for Cloverleaf Farm II, returns to two turns and natural dirt. The daughter of Repentfinished third in the seven-furlong Beaumont Stakes (gr. II) on the Polytrack at Keeneland in her last start April 7.
Brereton C. Jones' homebred No Such Word won Oaklawn's Honeybee Stakes (gr. III) impressively in her stakes debut for trainer Cindy Jones March 13. The Canadian Frontier miss then returned to run a distant third in the Fantasy in her last race April 2.
Seeking the Title closed a ton of ground to wind up third, less than a length behind Quiet Temper, in the Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II) in her stakes bow March 26 at Fair Grounds. Trained by Dallas Stewart for owner Charles Fipke, the Seeking the Gold filly has started just three times, all at Fair Grounds this year, and would seem to have plenty of room for further improvement.
Southern California shipper Harissa, a daughter of Afleet Alex , has been off since a powerful 3 1/2-length win in the Sunland Park Oaks March 28 for trainer David Hofmans and owner Gem, Inc.
Khancord Kid switches to dirt for trainer John Kimmel following five consecutive races on the turf. The Lemon Drop Kid filly captured the nine-furlong Herecomesthebride Stakes (gr. IIIT) in front-running style at Gulfstream Park in her most recent start March 6.
C C's Pal comes into the Black-Eyed Susan off a pair of graded stakes placings for trainer Derek Ryan. The Florida-bred daughter of Alex's Pal finished second in the Florida Oaks and third in the one-mile Comely Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct April 10.
$175,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (gr. II, Race 12, 5:50 p.m.), 3-Year-Old Fillies, 1 1/8 Miles
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. No Such Word (KY), T.J. Thompson, 122, C. Jones
2. Seeking the Title (KY), K.J. Desormeaux, 116, D. Stewart
3. Khancord Kid (NY), R. Maragh, 122, J.C. Kimmel
4. Acting Happy (KY), J. Lezcano, 116, R.E. Dutrow, Jr.
5. Harissa (KY), T. Baze, 122, D.E. Hofmans
6. Tidal Pool (KY), C.H. Borel, 116, D.W. Lukas
7. Patriot Miss (VA), T.L. Dunkelberger, 116, R. Jenkins
8. C C's Pal (FL), E. Coa, 116, D.S. Ryan
9. Diva Delite (FL), J.R. Leparoux, 122, I.R. Wilkes