Trainer Dale Romans will send out a pair of runners in Friday's 92nd renewal of the GII Black-Eyed Susan S. at Pimlico, entering GI Kentucky Oaks fourth-place finisher Go Maggie Go (Ghostzapper) and maiden Ma Can Do It (Majesticperfection). The two fillies will break next to one another, with the latter drawing the 4-post and the former getting the 5-hole.
Go Maggie Go was installed as the 5-2 second choice on the morning line and will be running off just two weeks rest following her strong showing in the Oaks, when she was beaten just three lengths despite a troubled trip.
“I think if you go back and watch the race,” Romans said, “you can make a case for her being second. She broke away bad and had a little traffic down the lane.”
The Oaks was the first defeat in three starts for the Mike Tarp homebred, who stepped up off a maiden win Mar. 13 at Gulfstream to win the sloppy GII Gulfstream Park Oaks Apr. 2. The short turnaround for this start is of no concern to Romans.
“She's doing great,” Romans said. “She's just a really good filly. She's like a colt, so I don't think the two weeks will hurt her. I've done it quite a bit, wheel horses back. We used to do it all the time. I don't know how we got away from it. It became a numbers situation–the numbers said you have to wait. Truth of the matter is, run 'em.”
Kyle Nagel's Ma Can Do It has yet to win a race, but finished third at 23-1 in the GI Alcibiades S. last October at Keeneland and was fifth behind champion Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. She most recently ran second in a Lexington maiden affair Apr. 23.
“I thought she was one of the most talented horses I had before,” Romans said. “I just figured she's doing good, why wait for her to have a big race and hope she has it in there. If Maggie stubs her toe, Ma will be right there.”
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