Fiftyshadesofhay closed with a rush in the final furlong for a rousing victory in the $500,000 Black-Eyed Susan S. (G2) at Pimlico Race Course on Friday (
VIDEO). The win was the second graded stakes score for Bob Baffert trainee.
Fiftyshadesofhay was in no hurry in the early stages of the 1 1/8-mile contest. She rated in sixth while off the rail down the backstretch. Joel Rosario began to inch his mount forward into the final turn, moving towards the inside at the top of the lane.
Caught behind horses, Rosario had to swerve to the outside once again, reeling in Marathon Lady by a neck at the finish. The winner was clocked in 1:52.73.
“It was kind of a perfect trip, but she was kind of slowing a little bit from the dirt in her face (early),” said Rosario. “I got her on the outside and she looked like she was really comfortable. Right when I went past the three-eighths pole before turning for home, she kind of got away from me a little bit. I was kind of worried about it, but she was able to get it back together and she kept going. When I passed the sixteenth-pole I could see that the horse in front of me was backing up a little. That’s when I felt better.”
Added Baffert,“I wasn’t sure turning for home because I told Rosario that she usually runs 1-2-3, but ride her the way you feel you should ride her. Rosario sort of did his own thing today, but it was the right thing.”
Owned by Karl Watson, Michael E. Pegram & Paul Weitman, Fiftyshadesofhay broke her maiden at Hollywood Park last year and won the San Ysabel (G3) at Santa Anita in January. She most recently finished third in the Santa Anita Oaks (G1) on April 6. Her record stands at 3-2-2 from nine starts. She has bankrolled $492,490.
This was Baffert's third Black-Eyed Susan, following Yearly Report in 2004 and Silverbulletday during her 1999 championship season.