Black-Eyed Susan Stakes 2026 Analysis (5-15-26)

The Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes goes as Race 13 at Laurel Park on Friday, May 15, and this year’s renewal drew an interesting field of developing three-year-old fillies going 1 1/8 miles on the main track. With a $300,000 purse on the line, this race gives several improving runners a chance to take a major step forward in the division.

The scheduled post time is 6:14 p.m. Eastern, and the past performance data referenced throughout this analysis is provided by Today’s Racing Digest.

Meet the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes Field

#1 Miss Fulton Gal (30-1)

Miss Fulton Gal enters at 30-1 on the morning line after finishing fourth in the Weber City Miss Stakes, missing third by only a head. She should save ground from the rail and work out a stalking trip behind the speed, but she will need a significant jump forward in her speed figures to threaten this group late.

#2 Ivy Girl (15-1)

Ivy Girl rallied from last to first in the Weber City Miss after employing the same successful closing style in a prior stakes victory at Parx. She clearly benefits from fast pace scenarios and a fair racing surface that rewards late runners. The key question is whether this race shape sets up favorably for another deep-closing effort.

#3 Holly’s Holiday (6-1)

Holly’s Holiday has improved dramatically from two poor starts last season to a perfect two-for-two campaign this year. She dead-heated in a maiden special weight at Oaklawn before winning a non-graded stakes event at one mile at attractive odds. She owns tactical speed, draws well in post three, and picks up Flavien Prat.

#4 Savor It (30-1)

Savor It exits a solid win at Parx going one mile, but this represents a major class hike. She has enough early speed to be involved early, although she looks up against it against this deeper field.

#5 Braken Poppa (7-2)

Braken Poppa is an intriguing Louisiana-bred making her first start against open company. She is four-for-five overall and undefeated this year after dominating back-to-back Louisiana-bred stakes races. Jose Ortiz retains the mount, and her positional speed should allow her to secure a favorable trip near the front.

#6 Haute Diva (15-1)

Haute Diva won the Cash Run Stakes at Gulfstream earlier this year but failed to fire in her last two graded stakes attempts. She will need a major rebound performance after disappointing efforts in both the Davona Dale and Gulfstream Park Oaks.

#7 Jumping the Gun (3-1)

Jumping the Gun has hit the board in all six career starts, but her strongest races came sprinting. She finished third in the Weber City Miss in her return from a layoff and may eventually prove more effective cutting back in distance.

Read more at Today's Racing Digest

Pimlico Special 2026 Analysis (5-15-26)

The Grade 3 Pimlico Special headlines the Friday, May 15 card at Laurel Park as race 12, featuring a $250,000 purse for older runners going 1 3/16 miles on the main track. Scheduled post time is 5:37 p.m. Eastern, and this year’s edition brings together an interesting mix of tactical speed, proven graded stakes runners, and horses trying to prove themselves at the distance.

The past performance data referenced throughout this analysis comes from data available at Today’s Racing Digest.

Meet the Field

1. Maclean’s Rook (4-1)

Maclean’s Rook exits a victory at Colonial Downs at a mile and a sixteenth against optional claiming company. He has won twice at Laurel Park, but this is a meaningful class hike against tougher graded stakes competition.

His 143 Final Time Rating last out fits competitively on paper, although Colonial numbers do not always transfer to other circuits. Earlier this year in a stakes race at Laurel going one mile, he earned a 135 Final Time Rating, which leaves him needing improvement.

2. Navajo Warrior (5-2)

Navajo Warrior enters in sharp form for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. with Flavien Prat aboard. He exits a strong optional claiming victory at Gulfstream Park where he defeated Gosger, a runner-up in last year’s Preakness Stakes.

The key question is distance. Most of his success has come around a mile and a sixteenth, but his recent figures are strong enough to make him a major player if he handles the added ground.

Recent Fire Numbers	Recent Final Time Ratings
96 – 92 – 104	147 – 153

He projects to secure a clean tactical trip from the inside and could either set the pace or stalk just off it.

3. San Siro (6-1)

San Siro continues to show up consistently in graded stakes company. He exits back-to-back third-place finishes in the Grade 3 Essex and Grade 3 Ben Ali.

What I like most is his reliability. His recent numbers remain steady, and he consistently finishes with interest late.

Recent Fire Numbers	Recent Final Time Ratings
104 – 92 – 98	146 – 158

The concern is pace. In a compact seven-horse field lacking abundant early speed, closers may have a difficult setup.

4. Awesome Aaron (9-2)

Awesome Aaron returns to defend his title after winning this race last year under John Velazquez, who reunites with him again here.

This race shape could work perfectly in his favor. There is very little committed speed signed on, and Velazquez excels at placing horses aggressively into favorable tactical spots.

After returning from a layoff in the Oaklawn Mile, where he faded following a fast early pace, he improved sharply in the Ben Ali with a 155 Final Time Rating.

Race	Pace Rating	Final Time Rating
Oaklawn Mile	150	119
Ben Ali	147	155

This will be his third start off the layoff, and his progression suggests another forward move is possible.

Pro Insight

In shorter fields with limited pace pressure, horses with tactical speed often hold a major advantage. Awesome Aaron does not need the lead to win, which gives John Velazquez multiple tactical options.

5. Xcellent Start (30-1)

Xcellent Start has experience and local familiarity, but his running style may leave him with too much to do late.

He exits a fourth-place finish in an allowance race at Charles Town and earned a 131 Final Time Rating. His Fire Numbers are respectable enough, but this pace scenario does not appear favorable for a deep closer.

Read more at Today's Racing Digest

Preakness Stakes 2026 Preview (5-11-26)

 In this horse racing video, I preview the 2026 Preakness Stakes (5-11-26). 

The 151st Preakness Stakes will be held at Laurel Park on Saturday, May 16, 2026. 

Check out horse racing free picks and more at The Runaway Horse.     

Preakness Stakes 2026 Video Update (5-9-26)

In this horse racing video, I share the latest 2026 Preakness Stakes news (5-9-26). 

The 151st Preakness Stakes will be held at Laurel Park on Saturday, May 16, 2026. 

Check out horse racing free picks and more at The Runaway Horse.     

Peter Pan Stakes Day Picks at Aqueduct (5-9-26)

I’m taking a look at the four stakes races on Peter Pan Stakes Day at Aqueduct, including the Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes, which serves as a key prep race for the Belmont Stakes. The past performance data referenced throughout this analysis is provided by Complete Digest from Today’s Racing Digest.

Grade 3 John A. Nerud Stakes Analysis

The sixth race is the Grade 3 John A. Nerud Stakes at six furlongs on the main track. The favorite appears to be One Nine Hundred, and that runner could absolutely prove difficult to catch if left alone on the front end. He likes Aqueduct, prefers this six-furlong trip, and projects as the controlling speed.

Still, I’m siding with Full Moon Madness as my top choice. This runner has already proven effective at Aqueduct and at this exact distance. Last time out in a Grade 3 at Aqueduct on February 28, he narrowly missed by a nose while earning a strong 138 Final Time Rating and a 140 Pace Rating.

What I like most is the projected trip. Full Moon Madness does not need the lead. He can sit just off the pace, track comfortably, and make his move turning for home. Reylu Gutierrez gave him a smart tactical ride last time, and if the pace gets even mildly contested, this horse could wear down the favorite late.

My Betting Takeaway

Full Moon Madness offers the right combination of tactical speed, local form, and pace setup to upset the likely favorite.

Read more at Today's Racing Digest

Santa Anita Park Pick 6 Carryover Analysis (5-8-26)

The Pick 6 carryover at Santa Anita Park for Friday, May 8 sits at $42,057, and the sequence covers races three through eight. After digging through the card and reviewing the projections from Today’s Racing Digest, this looks like a sequence where a few logical runners could control the outcome. That means I’m approaching this ticket with discipline and keeping the budget manageable while still trying to capitalize on the carryover opportunity.

The past performance data and proprietary ratings referenced throughout this analysis are available in the Complete Digest from Today’s Racing Digest.

Race 3 — $10,000 Claiming N3L — 5 1/2 Furlongs

This seven-horse field opens the Pick 6, and the projections point clearly toward one runner. Looking at the Today’s Racing Digest projected figures, Headstrong Ways controls nearly every key category.

Horse	Fire Number	CPR	Fast Fig	Final Time Rating
Headstrong Ways	78	102	112	113
Neezer Dalton	77	101	—	110

Headstrong Ways looks like the controlling speed from the rail and should get a favorable trip. The January 2 victory against claiming company on dirt stands out, especially the 113 Final Time Rating earned that day. If this horse reproduces that race, the rest of this field may be running for second.

My Betting Takeaway

I’m comfortable singling Headstrong Ways to begin the sequence. The projected pace setup and superior ratings make this the most reliable single on the ticket.

Race 4 — $32,000 Claiming — 1 Mile Turf

The turf rails are set at 30 feet, which generally favors horses that are forwardly placed or sitting within striking range. Deep closers often struggle under these conditions, so trip dynamics become critical.

Three runners appear intent on showing speed:

• Bear’s Board
• Motet
• Eighties

That projected pace battle could set things up for a stalker, which is why Anywaythewindblows makes plenty of sense. Still, I don’t want to leave Bear’s Board off the ticket.

Read more at Today's Racing Digest

Preakness Stakes 2026 Video Update (5-6-26)

In this horse racing video, I share the latest 2026 Preakness Stakes news (5-6-26). 

The 151st Preakness Stakes will be held at Laurel Park on Saturday, May 16, 2026. 

Check out horse racing free picks and more at The Runaway Horse.