Always Shopping Tops Competitive Black-Eyed Susan Field

Repole Stable's homebred Always Shopping, who broke her maiden in stakes company two starts back, heads a field of nine in the $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2), Pimlico Race Course's feature race May 17 for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/8 miles. 

Always Shopping, trained by Todd Pletcher, will attempt to extend her win streak to three after taking the Feb. 3 Busanda Stakes and April 6 Gazelle Stakes (G2), both 1 1/8 miles at Aqueduct Racetrack. After progressing through three maiden special weights, the Awesome Again  filly rallied from fifth to win the Busanda and stalked the pace in the Gazelle.

"This seems like a natural progression for her. She's improved each spot, and two turns and 1 1/8 miles seems to suit her well," Pletcher said. "Everything has gone well for her since the Gazelle."

Always Shopping is out of Stopshoppingmaria, a stakes winner on grass who was second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G2T) and Frizette Stakes (G1) on dirt.

Robert Manfuso, Wayne Harrison, and trainer Katharine Voss' homebred Las Setas has won the last four of her five total starts, including Laurel Park's Feb. 16 Wide Country, March 16 Beyond The Wire, and April 20 Weber City Miss stakes. The Maryland-bred daughter of Seville led nearly every step of her four wins, gradually stretching from seven furlongs to 1 1/16 miles.

"The water gets a lot deeper. It's going to be a much tougher race. There are fillies in there that have run much better (speed figures) than she has, but we'll see," Voss said. "She's doing well. She hasn't missed a beat since her last race. Hopefully, she can move up a few points."

Las Setas earned a 92 Equibase Speed Figure in the Wide Country (the same as Always Shopping in the Gazelle), followed by an 83 and 88.

"She actually ran a slower number in the Beyond the Wire," Voss said. "People think, 'Well, she bounced in the Beyond the Wire.' Actually, she was geared down because she didn't have to run any faster."

Jagger's Our Super Freak was second and third, respectively, in the Wide Country and Beyond the Wire, beaten 5 1/2 lengths by Las Setas both times. The Mineshaft  filly briefly stuck her head in front in the Weber City Miss before Las Setas fought back to win by a nose.

"She's just been consistent. She keeps trying hard," trainer Jamie Ness said of Our Super Freak. "She's a grinder, and sometimes that's all you need to catch a break. She dances every dance, and there's no reason why she won't this time, either, unless the competition is too tough."

Looking to rebound is Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Stetson Racing's Point of Honor. The Curlin  filly won her first two starts, including the Suncoast Stakes, but did not receive enough points to run in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) when she finished fourth in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2).

"When we didn't get in, the logical next step was to run in the Black-Eyed Susan," trainer George Weaver said. "It's a prestigious race on the tour for 3-year-old fillies, and we're happy to be a part of it."

Arindel's Cookie Dough, runaway winner of two Florida Sire stakes, is looking for her first win against open company after on-the-board finishes in the Davona Dale Stakes (G2) and Gulfstream Park Oaks. Sweet Diane, Off Topic, Ulele, and Brill complete the field.

Entries: Black-Eyed Susan S. (G2)

Pimlico Race Course, Friday, May 17, 2019, Race 11

• Grade II
• 1 1/8m
• Dirt
• $250,000
• 3 yo Fillies
• 4:48 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Sweet Diane (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	120	Eddie Kenneally	15/1
2	2Off Topic (KY)	John R. Velazquez	120	Todd A. Pletcher	8/1
3	3Ulele (KY)	Joel Rosario	120	Brad H. Cox	15/1
4	4Cookie Dough (FL)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	124	Stanley I. Gold	3/1
5	5Our Super Freak (KY)	Trevor McCarthy	120	Jamie Ness	20/1
6	6Always Shopping (KY)	Manuel Franco	124	Todd A. Pletcher	4/1
7	7Brill (KY)	Florent Geroux	120	Jerry Hollendorfer	5/1
8	8Point of Honor (KY)	Javier Castellano	120	George Weaver	5/2
9	9Las Setas (MD)	Jevian Toledo	120	Katharine M. Voss	15/1