My Miss Mo draws widest in Black-Eyed Susan at Laurel

Preakness weekend, which will be held this year at Laurel before a vastly reduced on-track audience of less than 5,000 while Pimlico undergoes refurbishment, kicks off Friday with a 14-race card highlighted by the $300,000 Black-Eyed Susan (G2).

Although she has yet to win a stakes from three attempts, My Miss Mo might go favored in the nine-furlong test for three-year-old fillies. My Miss Mo was a distant second to She Be Smooth in the Davona Dale (G2) two back while finishing ahead of On Time Girl, who later captured the Eight Belles (G2). She was second again, to Prom Queen, in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) while finishing well ahead of She Be Smooth.

Jumping the Gun, a distant second to Zany in the Demoiselle (G2) in December, might come on from her upset loss in the Weber City Miss S. to Ivy Girl and A. P.'s Girl, while Holly's Holiday enters off a surprise win in the Valley of the Vapors S. at Oaklawn Park. Braken Poppa, meanwhile, follows a route to Maryland similar to that of 2025 Black-Eyed Susan winner Margie's Intention, having prepped in Louisiana-bred stakes company.

Awesome Aaron defends his title in the $250,000 Pimlico Special (G3) over 1 3/16 miles, though the seven-year-old has placed only once in five starts since his mild 7-1 upset a year ago. Navajo Warrior, a sharp second-level allowance at Gulfstream last time, appears to fit, with Excelsior S. winner Yo Daddy and multiple Grade 3-placed San Siro also appearing as likely contenders.

The $150,000 Miss Preakness (G3), a six-furlong dash for three-year-old fillies, sees last-out maiden winners Lights Out Leni and Late Night Text facing a tough field of stakes veterans. Among them is Little Miss Curlin, who has won five of six, and Tessellate, a three-time stakes winner in Florida over the winter. Peach Tie and Victory Music, meanwhile, have both registered stakes successes over the Laurel strip.  

The aforementioned Margie's Intention appears the filly or mare to beat on class in the $125,000 Allaire du Pont Distaff over 1 1/8 miles. The same can be said for Ultimate Love in the $125,000 Hilltop S., a one-mile grass test for three-year-old fillies. Ultimate Love romped in her first three starts last season, including the Selima S., but lost for the first time when three lengths fifth as a surprise favorite in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) at Del Mar.

The $150,000 The Very One S., for fillies and mares at 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf, is headed by Grade 3 winner Les Reys and the Wesley Ward-trained Saturday Flirt, who landed the Soaring Softly S. at Saratoga last term.