Army Wife Wins Black-Eyed Susan Stakes

 Today's running of the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes was held, as usual at "Old Hilltop," where the Preakness Stakes will be run tomorrow.  The field of ten fillies vied for a purse of $250,000 in the 9 furlong (1 1/8 miles) race.  Army Wife, a bay daughter of Declaration of War, won the race in 1:49.63, by 2 3/4 lengths.  Willful Woman finished in second, 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Lady Traveler, who was 10 lengths ahead of Forever Boss.  The first four finishers earned $150,000, $50,000, $25,000, and $15,000 respectively.  Miss Leslie finished in fifth and earned $7,500; and The Grass Is Blue in sixth, won $2,500.  The rest of the order of finish was:  Beautiful Gift, Adventuring, Iced Latte and Spritz.

Army Wife winning the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes today at Pimlico

   As always, I post betting pay outs for a $2 bet in all categories.  Army Wife paid $11 to win; Willful Woman paid $12.60 to place; and Lady Traveler paid $8.40 to show.   The Exacta paid $127.40; the Trifecta paid $1,182.60; and the Superfecta paid $9,942.80.

Favorite Wins Kentucky Oaks 2021

 Eight years ago, Dreaming of Julia was the betting favorite to win the Kentucky Oaks.  Today, her three-year-old daughter, Malathaat, won the Kentucky Oaks as the betting favorite.  The bay daughter of Curlin was sent off as the 5 to 2 betting favorite in today's 147th Run for the Lilies.  She stumbled out of the gate, but was in fifth place halfway through the race.  Malathaat was three-wide on the first turn, and four-wide on the second turn.  Search Results took the lead in the stretch, but Malathaat slowly wore down her lead and edged past her for a neck win.  Just as people were approaching the filly with her floral drape of lilies, Malathaat jumped to the left and jockey John R. Velazquez (49 this year) vaulted from the stirrups to the right, landing on his feet.

   Malathaat covered the 9 furlongs in 1:48.99, and took home $713,000 for the win.  Irad Ortiz, Jr guided Search Results into second place, and pounded Velazquez on the back in congratulations after they passed the finish line.  Search Results banked $230,000, beating Will's Secret ($115,000) by 2 3/4 lengths, who was a nose in front of Clairiere ($57,500).

Search Results is hidden behind winner Malathaat

    As usual, I list bet pay-outs for a $2 bet...  Malathaat paid $7 to win; Search Results paid $5.80 to place; and Will's Secret paid $9.60 to show.  A $2 perfecta paid $37.80; the trifecta paid $929; and the superfecta paid $5,617.40.

   The complete of order of finish was:

1.    Malathaat    by a neck

2.    Search Results   by 2 3/4 lengths

3.    Will's Secret    by a nose

4.    Clairiene

5.    Travel Column

6.    Millefeuille

7.    Maracuja

8.    Pauline's Pearl

9.    Coach

10.  Crazy Beautiful

11.  Moraz

12.  Pass the Champagne

13.  Competitive Speed

Irad Ortiz, Jr congratulating John R Velazquez for winning the

Kentucky

Pegasus World Cup Invitational Results and Payouts

 Hmmm...  Just thinking...  The Pegasus World Cup Invitational decided a couple of years ago to not allow any competitors to use Lasix.  Suddenly, in 2019, the purse between the two races, which was then $16 million altogether, was reduced tremendously.  This year the races were for a combined $4 million.  There were no international horses that ran - if you count Say the Word, bred in Ontario, as a North American entry, and not a separate country, even though Canada is most definitely a separate country.  What caused the sudden downturn in purses and international horses?  Not allowing the use of Lasix?  Or some other esoteric factor?  -  Or is it just that the races are run in January?

   Anyway, whoever set the morning line betting was spot on assigning the favorites lower odds.  Both morning line betting favorites, Colonel Liam and Knicks Go won their races.

  In the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational, Colonel Liam covered the 1 3/8 miles in 1:53.09, winning by an outstretched neck over Largent.  Largent was  two lengths in front of Cross Border, who finished a half-length before Social Paranoia. Colonel Liam's pay packet was $549,000; Largent took back a check for $183,000; Cross Border added $91,500 to his income; and Social Paranoia took home $45,750.  The rest of the field finished in this order: 5th was Pixelate; 6th, Next Shares; 7th, Storm the Court; 8th, Aquaphobia; 9th, Breaking the Rules; 10th, North Dakota; 11th, Say the Word; 12th, Anothertwistafate.

  In betting payouts, Colonel Liam paid $7 to win; Largent paid $5.00 to place; and Cross Border paid $6.40 to show.  As always, I report payouts on a $2 bet.  The Exacta paid $24.20; the Trifecta paid $384.20; and the Superfecta paid $2,286.40.

Colonel Liam defeats Largent yesterday.

   In the Pegasus World Cup Invitational, the betting favorite Knicks Go ran the 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.89 and finished the race 2 3/4 lengths ahead of Jesus' Team.  Jesus' Team was a neck in front of Independence Hall, who was 6 1/4 lengths before Sleepy Eyes Todd.  Knicks Go was rewarded with $1,740,000; Jesus' Team took home $580,000; Independence Hall upped his earnings by $290,000; and Sleepy Eyes Todd added $145,000 to his bankroll.  The rest of the field crossed the line in this order: 5th, Code of Honor; 6th, Coastal Defense; 7th, Kiss Today Goodbye; 8th, Last Judgment; 9th, Math Wizard; 10th, Tax; 11th, Mr Freeze; 12th, Harper's First Ride.

   Knicks Go paid $4.60 to win; Jesus' Team paid $8.60 place; and Independence Hall paid $10 for a show bet.  The Exacta paid $43; the Trifecta paid $700.20; and the Superfecta paid $4,868.  

Knicks Go crosses the finish line in the PWCI.

I hope your day at the races went well!