Sweet Vendetta Wins BlackEyedSusan
Filly Overpowers Shes All Eltish, Defeats Favorite Bsharpsonata
Sweet Vendetta proved up to the task in the May 16 Black-Eyed Susan for 3-year-old fillies. She won over Shes All Eltish and the race's favorite,Bsharpsonata.
In sloppy going, Sweet Vendetta caught Shes All Eltish at the sixteenth pole, and defeated favorite, Bsharpsonata, as she drew off to a 1-1/2 length win in 1:49.60 in the May 16 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes. The Black-Eyed Susan for 3-year-old fillies, counterpart to the boys' Preakness Stakes, featured a field of eight to entertain the modest crowd of 18,407 on a bad weather day.
Bsharpsonata tired after the first half mile in the 1-1/8 miles, graded 2 contest and finished a dismal last. Trainer Tim Salzman and jockey Eric Camacho agreed it just wasn't Bsharpsonata's day.
Winning jockey Channing Hill posed for pictures after the race with his father, Alan Hill, who won the Black-Eyed Susan in 1975 with My Juliet. Co-owner and breeder of Sweet Vendetta David Cassidy claimed the filly is "...probably the best filly the mare (Sand Pirate) has had..."
Martin Wolfson trains Shes All Eltish. She is ridden by Garrett Gomez. Seattle Smooth finished third for jockey Edgar Prado.
Adena Stallions Miss Preakness Stakes
Three-year-old fillies sprint 6 furlongs in the graded 3, $100,000 Adena Stallions Miss Peakness Stakes. The favorite, Palanka City, prevailed in 1:10.90 by 5-1/2 lengths over the muddy track, beating Casanova Killer. Beau's Valentine finished third.
Terry Gestes trains the winner, who is piloted by jockey Chris Emigh.
Woodlawn Stakes
M J's Enchanter tired in the stretch of the graded 3, $75,000, 1-1/16 miles Woodlawn Stakes and was caught by Termsofengagement, who finished in 1:11.54 on the muddy surface. Favorite Malibu Kid went third.
The race, featuring 3-year-old fillies, is normally run on turf, but was taken to the main track. Nancy Alberts trains Termsofengagement, and Rosie Napraynik had the ride.
The Very One Stakes
Older fillies and mares race in the $75,000 The Very One Stakes, a 5 furlong turf sprint moved to the main track May 16. Jockey Eric Rodriguez rode All Giving to a 5 length win in 57.46 All Giving blitzed through the lane, giving all and leaving Cat On A Cloud at the 3-1/6 pole.
Smart and Fancy finished third. Flint Stites trains All Giving.
Gallorette Handicap
The first turf race on Preakness day, May 17, was the graded 3 Gallorette Handicap for older filles and mares. The race went under protest by stewards, as well as jockey Jeremy Rose, who piloted Lady Digby. A scramble into the first turn between Roshani and Lady Digby resulted in an interference claim by Rose against Roshani and her jockey, John Velazquez.
The claim was disallowed, however. Velazquez said he moved Roshani out to get her attention because she began to look at the crowd after gaining the lead. Roshani's trainer, Todd Pletcher, was unconcerned about the foul claim, saying the race was straight forward, and his filly always tries hard.
Time for the 1-1/16 miles was 1:49.08. Roshani's winning margin was 1/2 length. Lady Digby went second, and Valbenny was third.
