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Army Wife Marches Home in Black-Eyed Susan

Three Diamonds Farm's filly takes nine-furlong race in 1:49.63 at Pimlico.

Army Wife takes the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico Race Course

Army Wife takes the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico Race Course

Skip Dickstein

A lively pace in the early going of the George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) set the table for Three Diamonds Farm's Army Wife as the 3-year-old filly rolled to a 2 3/4-length score May 14 at Pimlico Race Course.

In her wake after nine furlongs in 1:49.63 was Willful Woman, who finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of Lady Traveler.

The top two choices, the Bob Baffert-trained Beautiful Gift (2-1) and the Brad Cox-trained Godolphin homebred Adventuring (3-1) were intent on getting the early lead, as they scrummed with Lady Traveler early through an opening first-quarter of :23.71 and a half-mile in :46.71 over a fast strip at Old Hill Top. The early lick came at a price, however, as the heavy hitters finished seventh and eighth, respectively.

The winner took the shortest route along the rail, advancing to the early leaders as the field hit six furlongs in 1:10.92, then took command in the stretch under Joel Rosario as the 9-2 third choice in the field of 10.

"They looked like they had a good pace in the beginning," Rosario said after winning his second Black-Eyed Susan (won aboard Fiftyshadesofhay in 2013). "I thought I was going to be forwardly placed, but the way they were moving, I was a little farther back."

The winner is trained by Mike Maker, who has had great success with both Three Diamonds and Rosario of late. Kirk Wycoff of Three Diamonds had planned on attending the Black-Eyed Susan, but called Maker earlier in the day to say he wasn't coming.

"It was good; Joel saved all the ground. They stayed on the rail and they came back to her," said the low-key Maker.

While the Wycoffs weren't in Baltimore, Douglas Wise-Stuart was. The wife of breeder and Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services' John Stuart, Wise-Stuart was thrilled with the win by the big bay filly.

(L-R); Breeder Douglas Stuart (Mrs. John Stuart). and Phoebe Hayes with Pimlico. Army Wife with Joel Rosario wins the George E. Mitchell Black-eyed Susan (G2) at Pimlico.<br>
Racing on Black-eyed Susan day during Preakness week in Baltimore, MD, on May 14, 2021.
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
(L-R); Breeder Douglas Stuart and Phoebe Hayes

"She's out of Tread, who is out of Scoot Yer Boots," said Wise-Stuart of the daughter of Declaration of War. "I found Tread, who is by Arch, at a Keeneland sale, and she was what you would call a 'John Stuart' mare. She was not too tall, but she had to have the bone. That is the most important thing."

"She was a fast filly as a racehorse out of a very fast horse in Scoot Yer Boots," said Stuart via cell phone after the race. "Shug McGaughey trained Scoot Yer Boots. I follow those fast ones that I can afford. She didn't cost much."

Tread, bred by Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider, won twice going six furlongs in 2013. Scoot Yer Boots, trained by McGaughey for Mill House, won five of seven starts, none beyond seven panels.

Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services paid $30,000 for Tread while carrying the Black-Eyed Susan winner at the 2017 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

"I convinced Patti Miller (EQB, agent) to buy her (Army Wife) for $50,000 at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton February Mixed Sale," said Stuart. "She was a nice filly. I couldn't believe how strong and mature she's grown up to be.

Consigned by Grassroots Training & Sales, Ryder Finney, agent, paid $190,000 at last year's Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training for the Black-Eyed Susan winner.

Army Wife is now 3-1-2 in eight starts and has earned $288,972. Her first three starts came on turf.

"We got her started on the grass and that didn't work out too well," Maker said.

She added one third-place finish at Saratoga last September on the turf to her ledger. Maker switched her to the main track where she broke her maiden at Churchill Downs Oct. 25. A good second in an allowance optional claiming race under the Twin Spires brought her juvenile campaign to a close.

"She did so well on the dirt, we just left her there," said Maker.

Army Wife with jockey Joel Rosario easily handled the field to win the 97th running of the Black Eyed Susan at Pimlico Race Track Friday  May 14, 2021 in Baltimore, MD
Photo: Skip Dickstein
The connections of Army Wife in the winner's circle following the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico Race Course

At 3 she made her debut at Gulfstream Park in an allowance optional claiming race where she rallied to win by a nose going a mile. Then Maker made the decision to send her to Aqueduct for the Gazelle Stakes (G3) where she fought back for a third-place finish behind Search Results and Maracuja.

"This was a huge break-out win for her; third start off a layoff. I thought her last race (the Gazelle) was a strong race. She had trouble late in the stretch, and it looked like she wasn't going to beat a horse, but she came on and got third place.

"I have a feeling she'll be a big threat for the Alabama Stakes (G1 at Saratoga this summer)," Stuart said. "It's a speedy family, so I'm a little surprised she got a mile and an eighth and won it kind of easily. This Mike Maker is a pretty good horse trainer."

Black-Eyed Susan Day at Pimlico Race Course produced a record total handle of $27,675,000, eclipsing the previous record set in 2019 of $21,349,000. Attendance Friday was capped at 10,000 due to COVID-19 protocols.

"We're pleased Black-Eyed Susan Day produced some fantastic racing by some extraordinary horses, and it was nice to see people at the track having a fantastic time," said Craig Fravel, CEO of 1/ST Racing. "We want to thank the horsemen for supporting this day of racing and our racing office that did such a great job putting the program together. We're looking forward to Saturday and Preakness 146."

Video: George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan S. (G2)