Pimlico Special features star-studded cast

Friday's Black-Eyed Susan undercard at Pimlico features a stellar edition of

the Grade 3, $300,000

Pimlico Special Stakes as well as three sprint stakes in the lead-up to

Saturday's 137th running of the Preakness Stakes.

The Pimlico Special, formerly called the William Donald Schaefer, has drawn

10 runners to go 1 3/16 miles on the main track at Old Hilltop. Included in the

well-matched, talented group is Mission Impazible, Toby's Corner, Endorsement,

Hymn Book, Nehro and Alternation.

Mission Impazible is seeking a return to the winner's circle following a trio

of seconds in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap, Grade 1 Donn Handicap and Grade 2 New

Orleans Handicap in his past three. The Todd Pletcher-trained gray's last

victory came in the 2011 New Orleans 'Cap, but the Unbridled's Song

five-year-old posted a sharp five-furlong move in :59 2/5 on Belmont's training

track Saturday in preparation for the Pimlico Special.

When he reappeared in December, the chestnut was in Eoin Harty's shedrow and

proceeded to post a pair of seconds against optional claiming company.

Endorsement finally got back on the winning track in February and returned to

stakes competition in time for a two-length score in the Grade 3 Texas Mile

Stakes on April 28. Martin Garcia guided the five-year-old in his maiden win and

takes back the mount for the Pimlico Special.

Alternation brings an unbeaten seasonal mark into Friday's race. The

Distorted Humor four-year-old opened the year at Oaklawn with a 3 1/2-length win

in the Essex Handicap, and proceeded to conquer the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap

and Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap at that Hot Springs, Arkansas, venue. The Donnie

Von Hemel trainee also captured the Grade 2 Peter Pan Stakes last season.

Hymn Book rocketed to fame when gutting out a nose score over Mission

Impazible in the Donn to start his six-year-old campaign. The Arch gelding has

made just one start since that February 11 victory, running fourth in the

Oaklawn Handicap, but could easily return to form on Friday with John Velazquez

staying in the irons. Nehro was sixth in the Oaklawn 'Cap in his second start

since a eight-month vacation. That extended break was forced upon him by an

ankle chip suffered while running fourth in the Belmont Stakes. Prior to that

contest, the Mineshaft colt was second in the Kentucky Derby. Nehro returned on

February 25 at Fair Grounds to take an optional claimer by 7 1/4 lengths.

It's been awhile since Yawanna Twist visited Old Hilltop, but that 2010 trip

resulted in a fourth-place run, just two lengths back of the winner, in the

Preakness Stakes. The Yonaguska five-year-old ran third in the Grade 1 Carter

Handicap last year and opened this season by earning his first stakes win in the

General George.

The remaining two runners in the field are Grade 2-placed Cease, who scored

in the Maxxam Gold Cup in March, and five-time stakes winner Eighttofasttocatch.

Grade 3 hero Ben's Cat is seeking a title defense in the $100,000

Jim McKay Turf Sprint on the undercard. The five-furlong grassy contest drew

12 runners, including the gelded son of Parker's Storm Cat who posted a third

straight win in the Mister Diz Stakes over course and distance on April 7.

Distaffers will get their turn on the turf when 11 fillies and mares line up

for the $100,000

The Very One Stakes at five furlongs. Well Deserved and Inspired ran second

and fourth, respectively, in the 5 1/2-furlong Giant's Causeway Stakes on

Keeneland's turf last out and face-off once again in The Very One.