Luminance using Black-Eyed Susan as prep for Acorn

Luminance, who skipped the Kentucky Oaks, will try to give Bob Baffert his fourth Black-Eyed Susan (Rickelle Nelson/Horsephotos.com) Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who’ll be running certain favorite American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) in the Preakness S. (G1) on Saturday, might also be running the favorite in the Black-Eyed Susan (G2) on Friday. Baffert will saddle Grade 1-placed Luminance (Tale of the Cat) for the $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan, Pimlico’s historic showcase race for three-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles. Luminance trained at Churchill Downs for a possible start in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), but Baffert decided to find another race for her. “After surveying everything there — she’s a really good filly — I just wanted to prep her for the Acorn (G1) down the road,” he said. “You want to place them where they can be competitive and not be too hard on them.” Luminance, who has won two of three starts, is coming off a runner-up finish in her stakes debut in the Santa Anita Oaks (G1). She was the early leader but couldn’t hold off Stellar Wind (Curlin), who won that 1 1/16-mile race by 5 1/4 lengths. Stellar Wind went on to finish fourth in the Kentucky Oaks (G1).

Out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Siren Serenade, Luminance races for Kaleem
Shah, who also owns Preakness contender Dortmund (Big Brown), the third-place
finisher in the Kentucky Derby (G1).

Baffert is seeking his fourth Black-Eyed Susan victory; he won with
Silverbulletday in 1999, Yearly Report in 2004 and Fiftyshadesofhay in 2013.

The field’s other graded-placed runner on dirt is Danessa Deluxe (Summer
Bird), trained by Jorge Navarro for Gelfenstein Farm. In her only start this
year, she finished third, two lengths behind winner Birdatthewire (Summer Bird),
in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) at 1 1/16 miles.

As a two-year-old, Danessa Deluxe won two of five starts. In her final start
in 2014, she finished fourth in the Delta Downs Princess (G3), five lengths
behind winner Take Charge Brandi (Giant’s Causeway), the year’s champion
two-year-old filly.

Devine Aida (Unbridled’s Song), trained by Ramon Morales for Frank Stronach’s
Stronach Stable, is a multiple stakes winner. At Gulfstream Park this year, she
won the Ginger Brew on turf by 3 1/2 lengths and the Herecomesthebride, switched
from turf to a sloppy main track, by 6 3/4 lengths. In her last start, Devine
Aida finished fourth in the Gulfstream Park Oaks, eight lengths behind
Birdatthewire.

Devine Aida’s dam, the Came Home mare Passion, was a graded winner on turf
and 3-for-3 on that surface.

“I thought all the time, she could be a grass filly,” Morales said, “but Mr.
Stronach, he’d like to see her better on the dirt.”

Morales was pleased with Devine Aida’s last workout, a half-mile in :47 4/5
Thursday at Gulfstream Park.

“She did it nice,” he said.

Include Betty wheels back off an eighth in the Kentucky Oaks (Coady Photography) Ahh Chocolate (Candy Ride), an undefeated filly trained by Neil Howard for Stoneway Farm, will be making her stakes debut. She came from behind to win a sprint against maidens in February at Fair Grounds by three-quarters of a length and rallied from midpack to win a 1 1/16-mile allowance race April 8 at Keeneland by 1 3/4 lengths. “Her first race was very professional,” Howard said. “She’s always been a little bit ahead of her time, demeanor-wise. We thought the race at Keeneland was a strong race.” Ahh Chocolate’s solid training since that race led to the decision to run her in the Black-Eyed Susan, Howard said, and the distance should suit her. “Pedigree-wise, physically, she’s kind of a big rangy filly,” he said. “Her running style, you would think it would be well within her.” Sweetgrass (Street Sense) has won two for four starts, including a seven-furlong allowance race at Keeneland in her last race. The Ian Wilkes trainee will be trying two turns for the first time.

Also entered are Fantasy (G3) winner Include Betty (Include), most recently
eighth in the Kentucky Oaks; Gypsy Judy (Kitalpha), winner of the Wide Country
S. at Laurel Park in February; and maiden winners Keen Pauline (Pulpit) and Pure
(Quality Road).

In other Black-Eyed Susan Day news:

The Maryland Jockey Club will offer bettors two special 50-cent Pick 4s and a
50-cent Pick 5 each with guaranteed pools of $250,000 during Friday’s 14-race
Black-Eyed Susan program at Pimlico.

The first
$250,000 guaranteed Pick 4 pool will be on races 8 through 11. The Pick 4 will
kick off with the $150,000 Miss Preakness (G3) followed by the
$100,000 Jim McKay Turf Sprint, $150,000 Allaire duPont Distaff S. (G3) and $250,000
Black-Eyed Susan.

The second
$250,000 guaranteed Pick 4 pool will start with the Black-Eyed Susan. The
remainder of that Pick 4 will be the $100,000 Skipat; the 13TH, a five-furlong
turf sprint for fillies and mares that drew 13 entries; and the $300,000 Pimlico Special (G3).

The $250,000
guaranteed Pick 5 pool will be on races 7 through 11 and will begin with a 1
1/16-mile turf allowance that drew a field of 17, including three also-eligibles.
The Rainbow 6 will begin with race 6, a six-furlong allowance for three-year-olds.

Bettors will
also be able to play the Black-Eyed Susan and Preakness daily double.
Advance wagering on all Preakness Day races will also be available beginning
Friday.

Bettors on
Black-Eyed Susan Day will have rolling Pick 3s and daily doubles, two other Pick
4s, the 10-cent Rainbow 6 and the 50-cent Pick 5 along with win, place and show,
exacta, trifecta and superfectas on every race.

Gates open Friday at 9:30 a.m. First race post is noon (EDT).

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com