Castellano, Keen Pauline Seize Opportunity in Black-Eyed Susan

Keen Pauline led from start to finish in the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes on Friday at Pimlico Race Course. (All photos by Eclipse Sportswire)
By Tom Pedulla, America’s Best Racing
BALTIMORE – Trainer Dale Romans missed his first flight from Louisville to Baltimore on Friday morning. He stood by for a second flight that would still have gotten him to Pimlico Race Course in time to see Keen Pauline compete in the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes.
When no seat became available on the second flight, Romans had no choice but to leave everything to Tammy Fox, his life partner and top assistant. It turns out his filly was in excellent hands — and Romans missed quite a show.
Longshot Keen Pauline turned her stakes debut into a front-running 2 ¾-length victory in the Black-Eyed Susan, buoyed by two-time Eclipse Award winner Javier Castellano’s heady ride.
“Going into the race, I always liked this filly,” Fox said. “She proved she can win big races.”
The chestnut daughter of Pulpit was bred and owned by Stonestreet Stables, which is overseen by Barbara Banke. Although her Kentucky-bred produced just one victory in five previous starts, Banke was not surprised by the outcome in the $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan. In fact, Romans had all but predicted it.
“Dale said she was sitting on a big race and it might be today,” Banke said.
Castellano rode Keen Pauline for the first time. He proved to be a difference-maker in the 1 1/8-mile race. She broke alertly from the far outside in post nine and escaped with modest fractions, covering the opening quarter in :24.37, a half-mile in :49.09 and the first three-quarters of a mile in 1:13. That left her with plenty in the tank for the stretch run and she kicked off to a final time of 1:50.46.
CASTELLANO AND KEEN PAULINE SCOOT AWAY

Fox was at a loss for words to describe Castellano’s handiwork.
“What can you say? You have the best of the best on the horse,” she said.
It was one of those races in which nothing unfolded as expected. Trainer Bob Baffert was upset with his rider, Martin Garcia, for failing to wrest the early lead with speedy Luminance.
“I told him, ‘You just took her best weapon away from her,’ ” snapped Baffert. “She needed the lead. She couldn’t get it, so after that she was not effective at all. We would have preferred to be on the lead.”
BAFFERT TALKS WITH GARCIA AFTER THE RACE

Castellano is the kind of rider who prepares himself for everything. When an unexpected opportunity presented itself, he was only too happy to pounce.
“You have to take advantage when anything happens in a race,” he said. “I didn’t expect to be on the lead. I saw a lot of speed in the race. I thought that Martin Garcia had the speed and was going to dictate the pace. He broke OK and didn’t send his horse to the lead. My horse broke so well out of the gate, I dictated the pace and I enjoyed the ride.”
Include Betty, a troubled eighth in the Kentucky Oaks, used her late kick to rally for second. Ahh Chocolate, making only her third career start, took third. Luminance finished a nonthreatening fifth.
For an Equibase chart, click here.