Black-Eyed Susan

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

BARONESS THATCHER (Johannesburg) bypassed the May 4 Kentucky Oaks (G1),

instead opting to go in Friday's Black-Eyed Susan S. (G2) against seven rivals.

The Patrick Biancone-trained miss looks to be the class of this Pimlico field

and we can't pick against her.

Baroness Thatcher has paid her dues so far this year, beaten twice by Oaks

queen Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy) before failing to challenge on Keeneland's

Polytrack in the Beaumont S. (G2) last out. The chestnut filly still managed to

earn a BRIS Speed rating of 96 that day, and has been

working well of late, getting a five-furlong bullet in :59 at Keeneland on May

7. Baroness Thatcher captured the Santa Ysabel S. (G3) earlier in the year and

appears ready to return to the winner's circle on Friday. Garrett Gomez has the

call.

WINNING POINT (Point Given) could take this one under Luis Garcia. The Edmond

Gaudet charge suffered her first career defeat when second in the Comely S. (G2)

at Aqueduct last out, but had plenty of excuses in that mile test. After leaping

in the air at the break, the chestnut miss stumbled twice, fell back toward the

rear of the field, but still managed a rallying second, just 1 1/2 lengths back

of the winner. With a bit of racing luck and a clean trip, Winning Point could

earn her first stakes victory here.

PANTY RAID (Include) easily broke her maiden last year at Saratoga, but

didn't do so well in her return in February off the six-month break. She quickly

proved that race to be a fluke when just missing by a head in the Bourbonette

Breeders' Cup S. (G3) and then captured an allowance at Keeneland.

The Todd Pletcher trainee will be tough to keep out of the exotics under Edgar Prado.

ENCHANTING STAR (Service Stripe) has yet to finish worse than second from

five career starts, including a runner-up finish in last year's Frizette S.

(G1). The Jennifer Bramblett-trained chestnut made her 2007 debut a winning one

and could challenge for it all in the top three. FIBBALATOR (Jump Start)

took four tries to break her maiden at Philadelphia Park, but finally did so in

easy fashion two back at a mile. The bay miss took a slight break before

returning to that track and scoring a 3 1/4-length allowance win. She'll be

making her stakes debut in this spot and could move forward enough to fill out

the gimmicks.

MOON CATCHER (Malibu Moon) has captured her past two, but will be making her

first start outside of Oaklawn Park while stretching out to nine furlongs. We'll

let her beat us. FEE FI FO FUM (Giant's Causeway) hasn't done so well in two

tries against graded company and we don't think that will change here. GRACE

HAPPENS (Aptitude) was pulled up when her saddle slipped in the Kentucky Oaks

last out, but she still looks out of

her class against these.

$25 Bankroll

$10 win Baroness Thatcher

$5 exactas: Boroness Thatcher over Winning Point,

Panty Raid and Enchanting Star