Experts’ Black-Eyed Susan day picks
Our ‘cappers tackle Friday’s graded stakes
The Biz
May 15, 2026
Preakness weekend 2026 is upon us, and we’ve once again prevailed upon our experts to share their Black-Eyed Susan day picks.
They’ve got top three selections in all of today’s graded stakes and all of them for tomorrow, Saturday — Preakness day! Good luck!
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GRADE 3 MISS PREAKNESS
The Friday morning scratches of Late Night Text and Victory Musice leave a field of just five to contest this six-furlong event. Little Miss Curlin is the 9-5 morning line favorite, while Lights Out Leni dominated at Aqueduct at first asking and makes her second start here. Local hopeful Peach Tie could get Brittany Russell’s barn off to a hot start this weekend.
The Miss Preakness is the eighth race on the card.
| John Piassek | Ted Black | Derby Bill Watson | Gary Quill | Nick Hahn | |
| First | 1. Little Miss Curlin | 3. Lights Out Leni | 5. Tessellate | 7. Victory Music | 1. Little Miss Curlin |
| Second | 3. Lights Out Leni | 7. Victory Music | 1. Little Miss Curlin | 5. Tessellate | 6. Late Night Text |
| Third | 6. Late Night Text | 1. Little Miss Curlin | 3. Lights Out Leni | 3. Lights Out Leni | 3. Lights Out Leni |
GRADE 3 PIMLICO SPECIAL
Once a nearly-mandatory stop for horses with Horse of the Year aspirations, the Pimlico Special isn’t quite that anymore, But this seven-horse group does pack some talent.
Rising star Navajo Warrior looks for his first stakes win and is 5-2 on the morning line. Yo Daddy (3-1) arrives off a win in the Excelsior, while local hopeful Maclean’s Rook, a Maryland-bred, looks for his first stakes win for trainer Mike Trombetta.
The Special goes as race 12.
| John Piassek | Ted Black | Derby Bill Watson | Gary Quill | Nick Hahn | |
| First | 2. Navajo Warrior | 2. Navajo Warrior | 7. Yo Daddy | 6. Duke of Duval | 6. Duke of Duval |
| Second | 7. Yo Daddy | 1. Maclean’s Rook | 2. Navajo Warrior | 3. San Siro | 3. San Siro |
| Third | 1. Maclean’s Rook | 7. Yo Daddy | 6. Duke of Duval | 4. Awesome Aaron | 7. Yo Daddy |
GRADE 2 BLACK-EYED SUSAN
A wide-open renewal of the Black-Eyed Susan, for three-year-old fillies, features four runners from the local prep, the Weber City Miss.
Weber City Miss winner Ivy Girl is 15-1 on the morning line, while one of the horses she beat, Jumping the Gun, is the 3-1 morning line favorite and is graded stakes-placed. The others are Weber City Miss runner-up A. P.’s Girl (5-1) and fourth-place finisher Miss Fulton Gal (30-1).
The Black-Eyed Susan is the 13th race on the card.
| John Piassek | Ted Black | Derby Bill Watson | Gary Quill | Nick Hahn | |
| First | 10. My Miss Mo | 5. Braken Poppa | 5. Braken Poppa | 3. Holly’s Holiday | 3. Holly’s Holiday |
| Second | 3. Holly’s Holiday | 7. Jumping the Gun | 7. Jumping the Gun | 10. My Miss Mo | 10. My Miss Mo |
| Third | 9. A. P.’s Girl | 9. A. P.’s Girl | 9. A. P.’s Girl | 8. Majestic Lucia | 5. Braken Poppa |
OUR HANDICAPPERS ARE:
- Gary Quill, co-host of Better Betting podcast and former The Racing Biz Maryland handicapper
- Derby Bill Watson, legendary former Colonial Downs on-air analylyst
- Ted Black is the Charles Town correspondent for The Racing Biz.
- Nick Hahn is the host of Off to the Races Radio, powered by The Racing Biz.
- John Piassek, Maryland handicapper for The Racing Biz.
Pick up reliable and rewarding tickets for major events!
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