Goodonehoney Has Final Tuneup Thursday for G2 Black-Eyed Susan
Goodonehoney Has Final Tuneup Thursday for G2 Black-Eyed Susan
Undefeated Stakes Winner Making Graded Debut in $250,000 Stakes May 18
BALTIMORE – Kasey K Racing Stable, Final Turn Racing Stable and Michael Day’s Goodonehoney, undefeated through two starts, breezed six furlongs Thursday morning on Laurel Park’s main track in her final major preparation for the $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan (G2) May 18 at legendary Pimlico Race Course.
Regular rider and exercise partner Steve ‘Cowboy’ Hamilton was up for the move, timed in 1:13.80 over the fast surface. It was the second work for Goodonehoney since her victory in the Weber City Miss April 21 at Laurel, which earned her an automatic entry to the 1 1/8-mile Black-Eyed Susan for 3-year-old fillies.
“I thought she went really well. Officially she went five-eighths in 1:01 and one, galloped out three-quarters 1:13 and four,” Egan said. “I was very pleased with the way she kind of eased into it, picked it up a little bit around the turn and Steve said she just cruised down the lane. He was really happy with her, so we’re excited.”
Hamilton has been aboard for both of Goodonehoney’s races, a 4 ¾-length debut triumph going six furlongs March 24 and the Weber City Miss, where she stretched out to about 1 1/16 miles, took the lead after going a half in 46.76 seconds and sprinted clear to a seven-length victory in 1:43.49.
“All in all, the filly’s been doing well. She worked nice this morning,” Hamilton said. “She was in hand, just snuck away from the pole beautifully, pricking her ears the whole way. I didn’t do anything but sit there, and she took me the rest of the way. She seemed like she pulled up well and she’s happy with how everything’s going. We’re looking for a big effort from her.”
Goodonehoney will be making only her third career start and first against graded in the Black-Eyed Susan, being run for the 94th time. Hamilton will have the return mount.
“People might say, ‘Oh, they don’t know when they win.’ But they know when they win, maybe not to the point of we know when we win but it helps them along,” Hamilton said. “She’s done everything we’ve asked of her. She overcame a lot. My hat’s off to Jay for having her ready for the Weber City. It’s a big thing coming off a one-turn maiden race stepping up to an effort like that. She never batted an eye at it.
“Running the way she ran last time I think she definitely deserves a shot,” he added. “For her to kick away, I know she was on the lead by herself but she still set some fairly nice fractions. To keep going off the one-turn effort to two turns and have something in the tank when you ask her at the eighth pole to spurt off, that’s a big effort. I don’t think we’ve gotten to the bottom of her yet.”
Since the first edition in 1919, when it was known as the Pimlico Oaks, the roster of Black-Eyed Susan winners have included 10 Eclipse Award champions as well as Hall of Famer Nellie Morse, the only filly to also win the Preakness (1924).
Calipha, trained by late Hall of Famer Grover ‘Bud’ Delp, was the last Maryland-bred filly to win the Black-Eyed Susan in 1991. Goodonehoney was bred by Bob Krangel of co-owner Kasey K.
“Hopefully she comes back in good order. So far it looks like she has, and we’re looking forward to next week,” Egan said. “It’s a prestigious race, historically one of the biggest races in Maryland, and to be there with a Maryland-bred just adds a little bit to it for us. It’s an exciting experience for us.”
