The Grade 2, $300,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes will take center stage Friday at Pimlico Race Course, drawing a competitive and evenly matched field of nine 3-year-old fillies. Contested at 1 1/8 miles, the historic race often serves as a springboard to summer prominence for young fillies, and this year’s edition is wide open, featuring a blend of proven stakes contenders and emerging talents.

From rail to outside, here’s a closer look at each entrant with their connections:

1. Liam in the Dust
Owned by Storyteller Racing and Michael Schroeck, this daughter of Liam’s Map has been knocking on the door in stakes company. She was second in last fall’s Grade 3 Pocahontas and most recently runner-up in a Keeneland allowance. Trained by Rodolphe Brisset and ridden by John Velazquez, she has hit the board in five of seven starts and will try to capitalize on her rail draw.

2. Princess Aliyah
A $1.2 million yearling purchase and half-sister to Grade 1 winner Eskimo Kisses, Princess Aliyah represents BC Stables LLC, et al. After winning the Valley of the Vapors Stakes two back, she disappointed when 10th in the Grade 2 Eight Belles. The D. Wayne Lukas trainee will be ridden by Maryland product Nik Juarez and looks to rebound in a field with less proven pace.

3. Margie’s Intention
Making her first start for trainer Brad Cox after shifting from Louisiana, this consistent filly has finished first or second in her last four starts. She was most recently second in the Crescent City Oaks. Bred by Coteau Grove Farms and owned by Baron Stable and WinStar Farm LLC, the daughter of Honor A. P. will be guided by Flavien Prat as she seeks her first graded stakes victory.

4. Runnin N Gunnin
Trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by Jose Ortiz, this daughter of Gun Runner has a proven record, with a win in the Sunland Park Oaks and a strong third in the Grade 2 Fantasy Stakes. Owned by Douglas Scharbauer and bred by Dixiana Farms, she’s a half-sister to two turf stakes winners and brings a solid resume into Friday’s test.

5. Kinzie Queen
The most experienced filly in the group with 11 starts, Kinzie Queen is fresh off a career-best effort winning an Oaklawn allowance. She’s trained by Greg Compton, who is having a breakout year and seeks his first graded stakes win. Owned by John Holleman and Compton Racing LLC, the McKinzie filly will be partnered with Junior Alvarado.

6. Paris Lily
A Godolphin homebred trained by Brendan Walsh, Paris Lily enters off a front-running allowance win at Keeneland. The daughter of City of Light will be ridden by Joel Rosario and brings strong early speed to the table. She was well-beaten in her only prior stakes attempt but has continued to mature.

7. Reply
This lightly raced filly from the barn of Brittany Russell showed promise when rallying late to finish second in the Weber City Miss Stakes. A daughter of Curlin and $450,000 auction buy, she is owned by Repole Stable and bred by Taylor Made Stallions, Ramspring Farm, and CDM Bloodhorse. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the call on the improving contender.

8. Amarth
Owned and bred by Green Lantern Stables LLC, this McKinzie filly trained by Eddie Kenneally has shown flashes of potential, including a runner-up finish in the Busher Stakes. She was fifth in the Grade 1 Ashland last out and will be ridden by Luis Saez as she searches for her first graded stakes top-three finish.

9. Moon Cache
A Maryland-bred by Mosler, Moon Cache has proven to be a sharp $40,000 claim by trainer Michael Gorham, who also has a Preakness entrant in Pay Billy. Owned by Original 6 Stable and bred by Hope H. Jones, she was beaten less than a length when third in the Weber City Miss and previously won the Beyond the Wire (before being disqualified to second). Raul Mena takes the reins.

With no dominant favorite and a field packed with versatile, well-bred fillies, the Black-Eyed Susan offers bettors and fans a thrilling prelude to Saturday’s Preakness Stakes. A breakout performance here could catapult one of these young stars into the national spotlight.