GII Black-Eyed Susan Stakes

It was the most literal of dream scenarios. The thing is, it had happened before. From time to time, Valerie Mastromonaco will have a dream--always about a horse--and then something will happen to bring it to life. Nothing dramatic, most of the time. True, once she dreamed that a particular horse in the barn had a problem, and unfortunately turned out to be right. But she doesn't take the phenomenon too seriously, as a rule; nor expect anyone else to do so. "I've no theories," she says. "I just think...

LAUREL, MD--Annually, the third Saturday in May draws all eyes to Maryland for the second jewel in the U.S. Triple Crown, the GI Preakness Stakes. This season is no different, however, a major adjustment brings the Classic to Laurel Park while Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore gets a complete overhaul. Like the now defunct original structure of its sister track 30 miles north, Laurel exhibits the wear and tear of the years. Several areas of the venue have been renovated while others are now cordoned off or boarded up. However, one...

Having spent the winter in New York and without a major star in her barn, trainer Amelia Green hasn't gotten much attention this spring. But that's no fault of her own. Through Tuesday, the former assistant to Todd Pletcher had won 18 races on the year, good for a 25-percent win rate. It took her the complete calendar year in 2025 to win the same amount, 18 races. "I think a lot of this has to do with the lessons I've learned when it comes to running horses where they...

BALTIMORE, MD -- A week of soggy weather couldn't dampen the spirits around the final Preakness weekend to be held at historic Pimlico Racecourse before it gets a major facelift. Five stakes, including a trio of graded tests, headline Friday's racing action, including the GII George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes. With several big-name trainers rolling into town for the marquee weekend, the locally based Brittany Russell will attempt to become only the second female trainer in Maryland history to win the Black-Eyed Susan with Repole Stable's Reply (Curlin). The...