Panty Raid Wins Thrilling Black-Eyed Susan Stakes

Pletcher's Filly Triumphs by a Length at Pimlico

BALTIMORE, May 18 -- Todd Pletcher won the Kentucky Oaks the day before the Kentucky Derby, and on Friday won the penultimate big race before the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico, sending out Panty Raid to capture the Grade II $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes.

With jockey Edgar Prado riding, Panty Raid withstood a long and thrilling stretch struggle, first overhauling front-running favorite Baroness Thatcher and then resisting the powerful move of Winning Point. The 3-year-old daughter of former Maryland-based handicap star Include ran the 1 1/8 -mile race in 1 minute 50.7 seconds and won by a length.

The race capped a stakes-packed day of racing at the track, which drew a crowd of 25,167.

Pletcher always thought highly of Panty Raid, who broke her maiden in her first start at Saratoga, winning by 7 3/4 lengths. He boldly nominated her to the Triple Crown races, but she didn't win again until taking an allowance race by a neck in her most recent start April 13 at Keeneland. In that race, she ran four or five wide around horses most of the way and still managed to finish first.

"The last race was maybe a bit deceiving," Pletcher said in the winner's circle. "She was on the outside post and to say she had an outside trip is an understatement.

"Today she showed us what she can be. She looks like a steady filly that will keep going."

The race began with Baroness Thatcher going straight to the front. Baroness Thatcher had been one of the top 3-year-old fillies earlier this year until she ran into Rags to Riches, Pletcher's Oaks winner, twice at Santa Anita.

Bet down to odds of 4-5, Baroness Thatcher, under jockey Garrett Gomez, ran through a mile in 1:37.41 and looked strong on the lead. Turning for home, Panty Raid, who had been well placed inside, began to close on her outside. At the same time, Winning Point, based at Bowie Training Center, surged to join the leaders, and they ran three abreast down the stretch to the finish.

"That was very exciting," said jockey Luis Garcia, who rode Winning Point for trainer Eddie Gaudet. "I checked a bit in the first turn then had a great trip all the way around. She moved up nicely on the rail, then angled outside full of run down the stretch. She's green. She's still learning."

In another major stakes race on the card, Time's Mistress, trained by the legendary D. Wayne Lukas, took over in the deep stretch to win the Grade III $125,000 Ms. Preakness Stakes, a six-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies.

Under jockey Mark Guidry, Time's Mistress ran a fast 1:10.53, ahead of runner-up Silver Knockers, trained by Nick Zito.

"She ran great," Lukas said in the winner's circle. "The pace was a little quicker than I anticipated, but they kind of collapsed on the front end."