Nine vie in Black-Eyed Susan; Pyrenees defends title in Pimlico Special

Godolphin owns the best three-year-old filly in the country in Good Cheer, and perhaps might have the best three-year-old filly at Pimlico on Friday in the $300,000 Black-Eyed Susan (G2) over 1 1/8 miles.

Paris Lily is the representative for Godolphin, which has been running off the score in three-year-old stakes across the globe this month. The daughter of City of Light stretches out following a wire-to-wire victory over the multiple graded-placed Liam in the Dust in an entry-level allowance foes at Keeneland last month, and has been the workmate of late for Gosger, the Lexington (G3) winner who is entered in Saturday's Preakness (G1).

"She's doing really well," trainer Brendan Walsh said. "She's working a lot better than she did at any point through the year. I'm looking forward to her, actually."

Reply, a rallying second in the Weber City Miss S. at Laurel in only her second career start, figures to receive plenty of backing. The daughter of Curlin is owned by Mike Repole and trained by Brittany Russell.

"She's just a big, grindy filly. There's no early foot to her at all," Russell said. "Distance won't be an issue, and a little bit of a pace setup in front of her wouldn't hurt."

Runnin N Gunnin won the Sunland Park Oaks two back and then finished a distant third in the Fantasy (G2), while stakes-placed Amarth was most recently fifth in the Ashland (G1). Also among the field of nine are Princess Aliyah, a stakes-winning granddaughter of Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Winning Colors, who fared poorly two weeks ago in the Eight Belles (G2). Margie's Intention steps up in class with good form for Brad Cox, albeit only in Louisiana-bred company to date.

Pyrenees is back to defend his title in the $250,000 Pimlico Special (G3) over 1 3/16 miles, which he won over Kingsbarns in his stakes debut 12 months ago. Kingsbarns subsequently returned the favor in the Stephen Foster (G1), in which Pyrenees finished second, a slot he also occupied in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1). Pyrenees was last seen finishing up the track at long odds in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) in November.

"Where he started his campaign prior to last year was a lot longer of a layoff, so we're at least ahead of the game in that respect," trainer Cherie DeVaux said. "He might need the race, but it's just a good target for him to start the year off."

Multiple graded winner Red Route One, fourth in last year's Special when caught behind a slow pace, might get a more favorable set-up courtesy of dual Aqueduct stakes winner Phileas Fogg and Grade 3 winner Encino, the latter one of two in the field for Brad Cox. The other is stakes newcomer Star of Wonder, who has won four of five starts.

Vodka With a Twist gets a relief in class and distance in the $150,000 Miss Preakness (G3), a six-furlong dash for three-year-old fillies, but there are numerous other viable candidates. Stakes winners Stunner, Long Neck Paula, Echo Sound, and G W's Girl merit respect, as do the promising Family and Mila Rose.

Grade 1 veteran Candied is the class of the $125,000 Allaire du Pont Distaff for fillies and mares over 1 1/8 miles, while the turf stakes offerings Friday are the $125,000 Hilltop S. for three-year-old fillies at one mile and the $100,000 The Very One S. for fillies and mares over five furlongs.