2024 Preakness Stakes weekend: Black-Eyed Susan odds, picks, best bets for Friday’s slate

Black-Eyed Susan Odds, Picks and Best Bets for Friday at Pimlico

Odds via TwinSpires.

Race 9 — To Win: No. 2 Royal Wintour
Race 9 — Pick 3: 2,3 | 3,4,10 | 1,10
Race 9 — Pick 5: 2,3,6 | 3,4,10 | 1,4,10 | 2 | 2,5,7,8
Race 10 — To Win: No. 4 Launch
Race 11 — To Win: No. 1 Queen of the Mud
Race 11 — Pick 3: 1 | 2 | 2,5,7,8
Race 12 — To Win: No. 2 Kingsbarns
Race 13 (Black-Eyed Susan Stakes) — To Win: No. 8 Recharge

Race 9 — Hilltop Stakes

Distance: 1 Mile

Surface: Turf

Post Time: 3:36 p.m. ET

Top Pick

No. 2 Royal Wintour (3-1) has one win and a pair of second-place finishes over three career starts. She has also improved her Beyer speed figure rating in each start. While she has two seconds, they were by a head and nose. Last time out she made a nice move on the turn, but didn't have the explosive kick. That said, she only missed by a nose.

Live Contenders

No. 3 Expatriate (6-1) only has her maiden score under her belt. She was floated out seven wide on the first turn, but was able to regain her composure and sit in a nice stalking trip. She got a jump on the favorite, who was closing down the center of the track and was able to show professionalism in overcoming those obstacles.

No. 6 She Feels Pretty (7-5) comes in as the class of the field with a win and a third in two Grade 1’s last fall. While impressive, the big questions are will she fire off the long layoff and how will she progress from 2-years-old to 3?

Race 10 — Miss Preakness Stakes

Distance: 6 Furlongs

Surface: Dirt

Post Time: 4:07 p.m. ET

Top Pick

No. 4 Launch (9-2) has done little wrong since shipping to the U.S and has three wins and a second in four career starts. The second-place finish came over a sloppy track, which shouldn’t be an issue today. She comes in off back-to-back Beyer bests and gets a jockey upgrade to Luis Saez.

Live Contenders

No. 3 Youalmosthadme (2-1) could argue that the young Filly needed her last race, which was her first off the bench in over four months. Trainer Brad Cox is 31% second off the long layoff. Youalmosthadme has shown versatility in her running style, which could prove to be the difference for her.

No. 10 Discreet Ops (12-1) is the local horse who saw a nice jump in Beyer speed figure from age two to three. Her stalking style and post-position make her very dangerous.

Race 11 — The Very One Stakes Betting Picks

Distance: 5 Furlongs

Surface: Turf

Post Time: 4:38 p.m. ET

Top Pick

No. 1 Queen of the Mud (3-1) broke in between, sat just off the leaders then was forced to swing wide in the stretch run. When she finally got in the clear and jockey Flavien Prat straightened her up, she exploded for home. Flavien has ridden her twice and produced two wins.

Live Contenders

No. 10 Future Is Now (6-1) will have other speed to contest with here, but being drawn toward the outside should help her. She faced the boys last time at Laurel and ran fifth to a couple who run tomorrow. Although she will have to overcome a few challenges, she has a win at this Pimlico turf course and produced her highest Beyer speed figure to date.

No. 4 Kaufymaker (2-1) faced the boys in the G2 Woodford last fall. She has seemed to need a race off the bench though so, at the price, be weary. While she’s not a need the lead type, there is another pace for her to contend with today.

Race 12 — Pimlico Special Stakes

Distance: 1 and 3/16 Miles

Surface: Dirt

Post Time: 5:10 p.m. ET

Top Pick

No. 2 Kingsbarns (7-5) looks to have turned the corner as 4-year-old as he is a perfect 2-for-2 this year. Both have been very respectable Beyer speed figures and he’s shown a new dimension to his running style, coming from further back. The fact that he is now versatile makes him extremely dangerous, even at the short price.

Race 13 — Black-Eyed Susan Stakes

Distance: 1 and 1/8 Miles

Surface: Dirt

Post Time: 5:44 p.m. ET

Top Pick

No. 8 Recharge (7-2) ran into the Oaks winner last time out. Prior to that, she was a perfect 3-for-3, all at different tracks. Jockey Joel Rosario was aboard for the Sunland Park Oaks victory. The outside post will allow her to sit the trip she wants.

Live Contenders

No. 5 Gun Song (9-2) has the two fastest Beyer speed figures in the race. The issue is both of those performances were around one turn. She stretched out to two turns last time out and faded late, though she faced much tougher competition in that race than she will today.

No. 7 Corposo (5-2) is shipping across the country, so they must think highly of her. She’s run well, but I’m not sure what competition she's faced up to this point. Her stalking style will bode well here.

No. 2 Ringy Dingy (10-1) was impressive last fall. She ran in the G2 Demoiselle, but that was a big step up – and in the mud. She ended up finishing seventh out of eight horses. She comes in off the long layoff and with a lot of questions, but if she's moved forward, she could be dangerous in a relatively soft field.