Pletcher Runners 1-2 in Grade 2 Test

BALTIMORE, 05-18-12 – Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Gary Barber’s In Lingerie was relentless in pursuit, wearing down front-running favorite Mamma Kimbo in deep stretch on her way to a 1 ¼-length victory in the $300,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2).

John Velazquez rode the lightly raced daughter of Empire Maker for trainer Todd Pletcher, who was also represented by the second-place finisher Disposablepleasure. The latter had to check sharply not long after the start, but she too was a determined runner in her effort to take the runner-up spot. Wildcat’s Smile rallied just behind the winner but was passed by Disposablepleasure in the final strides and finished third. Mamma Kimbo gave way late to be fourth.

Pletcher previously won the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes in 2005 with Spun Sugar and 2007 with Panty Raid. Velazquez won this race in 1998 with Added Gold, in 2003 with Roar Emotion and delivered aboard Spun Sugar in 2005.

In Lingerie, who had won the Bourbonette Oaks at Turfway Park in her previous start, completed the nine furlongs in 1:52.07 and paid $9.80.

Black-Eyed Susan Stakes Quotes

Todd Pletcher (winning trainer, In Lingerie) – “That was a big effort to run 1-2 like that. I’m pleasantly happy. We were pretty concerned at the start because one of the things Johnny and I talked about in the paddock was that she might have to make a wide sweep. It took her a little while to settle into stride and Johnny had no choice but to put her out pretty wide on the backside. I thought at the top of the stretch she was in pretty good shape, and she made a strong run in the stretch. I felt pretty comfortable coming to the sixteenth-pole. I think she made a big step forward to be one of the leaders of her division today.”

John Velazquez (winning jockey, In Lingerie)– “She stumbled there, but she got a good position in the first turn. I just wanted to get good position into the first turn, and we did and after that it was pretty easy for us.”

Todd Pletcher (trainer, Disposablepleasure, 2^nd)–”I thought she ran a huge race. She kind of got squeezed a little bit at the top of the stretch, but she kept running and gave a real good account of herself. She ran more than a respectable race. She finally ran the way we expected her to all winter.”

Javier Castellano (jockey, Disposablepleasure, 2^nd)– “I saved ground. I had a beautiful trip, but I had to wait at the quarter pole. I had to go around and lost momentum. I should have won the race. I had the best in there.”

Dominic Galluscio (trainer, Wildcat’s Smile, 3^rd)– “She ran very well. She wasn’t able to save ground on the first turn. She ran very well.”

Rosie Napravnik (jockey, Wildcat’s Smile, 3^rd)– “She really ran great and the race set up really well. They sort of forced me into a middle move early on going into the second turn when the winner came out outside of us. She is very talented and she ran great today.”

Bob Baffert (trainer, Mamma Kimbo, 4^th)– “It’s a little far for her. She was trying, but it’s just too far. She can get it with the right conditions. I knew it was a little bit beyond her limitations. She’s a good filly and I’d like t keep her a little bit shorter.”

Mike Smith (jockey, Mamma Kimbo, 4^th)– “She broke well and was well within herself early. Things were going OK early but it just wasn’t our day. I guess it wasn’t a good trip.”

Corey Nakatani (jockey, Glinda the Good, 5^th)– “I thought that she ran a really good race. She was stepping up into some really good company and there were some toughies in this race for her. She ran hard. She ran evenly as well and hopefully she will run a little better next time.”

Chad Brown, trainer, Welcome Guest, 6^rd)– “Ramon felt that she didn’t maybe handle the track out there. Halfway through the race she wasn’t giving him anything.  She’s been training so well going into this, I have to imagine she didn’t handle the surface here. We’ll have to draw a line through it and regroup with her. I know she’s a lot better than that.”

Ramon Dominguez (jockey, Welcome Guest, 6^th)– “I had a good trip, but she did not get hold of the track and that was it.”

Graham Motion (trainer, Zucchini Flower, 7^th)– “She ran her race. She was just in a little tough.”

Sheldon Russell (jockey, Zucchini Flower, 7^th) – “She gave me a great run around there today. I don’t really have any excuses. I was just trying to get her out there to get a piece of it. She gave me everything I asked of her.”

Rodney Jenkins (trainer, Plum, 8^th)– “She’s a nice filly. She ran real well, but when the running got going, she just didn’t have enough.”

Abel Castellano (jockey, Plum, 8^th)– “The race was good but she was around a lot of horses and she doesn’t like to be around any horses. I was very disappointed in the spot that we got. She will definitely run better next time and I’ll have her in a better spot than I did today.”

Tim Hills (trainer, Oaks Filly, 9^th)– “We took. It’s now back to synthetics and the turf.”

Julien Leparoux (jockey, Oaks Filly, 9^th) – “She’s fine. We were just not in it at the end. No sense going after her late where we were.”