My Miss Mo caps big day for Joseph in Black-Eyed Susan

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. enjoyed a big day at Laurel on Friday, capturing the $300,000 Black-Eyed Susan (G2) with My Miss Mo and the $250,000 Pimlico Special (G3) with Navajo Warrior, both of whom went off favored in their respective races.

Favored at 5-2 in the Black-Eyed Susan off runner-up finishes in the Davona Dale (G2) and Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), My Miss Mo, breaking from post 9, broke well and used her early foot to get in favorable position just in behind outsider Savor It.

Tracking that rival in second down the backside, My Miss Mo then poked her head in front entering the far turn and was soon joined by Jumping the Gun. Those two battled until mid-stretch, when My Miss Mo asserted her class and began to pull away.

Under Tyler Gaffalione, My Miss Mo stretched her advantage to 1 3/4 lengths at the wire. She completed one lap of Laurel's fast track, 1 1/8 miles, in 1:52.15 and returned $7.

Jumping the Gun held second by one length over A. P.'s Girl, who was followed by Majestic Lucia, Miss Fulton Gal, Holly's Holiday, Braken Poppa, Ivy Girl, and Savor It.

Owned by Averill Racing, Mathis Stable, and co-breeder Tristan De Meric, My Miss Mo has now won two of six starts. Bred in Florida, the daughter of Uncle Mo brought $325,000 as a juvenile at OBS last March.

Entered and then scratched from the Kentucky Oaks (G1) two weeks ago, My Miss Mo landed in a far softer spot in the Black-Eyed Susan and fully capitalized.

Navajo Warrior's lack of stakes experience heading into the Pimlico Special didn't affect bettors, who backed him down to 6-5, nor did it affect the five-year-old's performance. Under Flavien Prat, Navajo Warrior set all the fractions and had plenty left to win the 1 3/16-mile test by 2 3/4 lengths.

Owned by a wide-ranging partnership that includes BAG Racing Stables, Navajo Warrior finished up in 1:56.61. Maclean's Rook finished second, three parts of a length in front of San Siro.

Starting his career in Southern California, Navajo Warrior eventually found his way to the Joseph barn last summer. The Pimlico Special was the fifth win in seven starts under Joseph's tutelage, and the Candy Ride gelding's stakes debut. He preceded the Special with a 1 1/2-length allowance triumph at Gulfstream over Gosger, last year's Preakness (G1) runner-up. 

One year after capturing the Black-Eyed Susan, Margie's Intention made a winning return to Maryland when taking the $123,750 Allaire du Pont Distaff by 2 3/4 lengths under Irad Ortiz Jr. Low Country Magic and Late Nite Call finished second and third, respectively, in the strung out field of five fillies and mares.

Owned by Delta Squad Racing, Michael Dubb, and Madaket Stables, Margie's Intention covered nine furlongs in 1:52.36 and paid $3.20.

A Brad Cox-trained daughter of Honor A. P., Margie's Intention has won four of 11 starts. The Louisiana-bred joined the Cox stable immediately prior to last year's Black-Eyed Susan, and after signature win at Pimlico, later placed in the Delaware Oaks (G3), Alabama (G1), and Beldame (G2).

Trainer Brittany Russell scored back-to-back stakes wins to kick off the black-type action Friday, beginning with Peach Tie's 7-1 upset of the $148,500 Miss Preakness (G3).

Last of five down the backside of the six-furlong test for three-year-old fillies, Peach Tie gradually made up ground and then ran down Tessellate inside the final furlong to win by 1 1/2 lengths. Tessellate finished 3 3/4 lengths ahead of Little Miss Curlin, while 6-5 favorite Lights Out Leni weakened to fourth.

Owned by the Estate of Brereton Jones and ridden by Sheldon Russell, Peach Tie finished up in 1:11.87 and paid $16.60. The Miss Preakness was the daughter of Preservationist's third career stakes win, following the Gin Talking S. on Dec. 27 and Wide Country S. on Feb. 21.

One race later, the Russell-trained Coach Mazzula held off 7-5 favorite Ultimate Love by a head to claim the $125,000 Hilltop S. for three-year-old fillies going one mile on the turf. Leading throughout, Coach Mazzula finished up in 1:35.52 on firm ground under Jevian Toledo.

Owned by Madaket Stables, the daughter of Authentic has now won three of seven starts, all of her wins occurring over the Laurel turf. The Hilltop was her stakes debut.

Sunna, the 7-5 favorite in a field of eight fillies and mares, led all the way to win the $100,000 The Very One S., a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint, by one length under Luis Saez. Saturday Flirt finished second, three parts of a length in front of Lost and Found.

A homebred racing for Leverett Miller and trained by J.K. Sweezey, Sunna sped in 1:01.84 and paid $4.80. It was the first stakes win for the four-year-old daughter of Dominus, who has now won four of seven starts.