Pimlico: Gypsy Judy will go in Black-Eyed Susan

Trainer Robin Graham cross-entered her promising 3-year-old filly Gypsy Judy in both the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan and the $100,000 Hilltop Stakes on turf at Pimlico on Friday.

On Tuesday, Graham said Gypsy Judy would run in the $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan at 1 1/8 miles. "I was just covering my bases in case someone snuck into the Black-Eyed Susan that I wasn’t aware of,” said Graham, who is based at Laurel Park. “It’s the old racetrack saying. If you are afraid of one horse in a race, run. If you are afraid of two or three, stay home. It looks like Luminance is that horse in here.”

While Graham thinks Luminance is the one to beat in the Black-Eyed Susan, she points out Gypsy Judy has finished in front of Stellar Wind, who beat Luminance in the Santa Anita Oaks. Stellar Wind made her first two career starts in Maryland for trainer Donald Barr before she was purchased and sent to John Sadler in Southern California. Gypsy Judy and Stellar Wind made their career debuts in the same race at Laurel last November. Gypsy Judy finished second, beaten a neck, and Stellar Wind was third, a half-length farther back. "I know they were babies and a lot has changed," Graham said.

Gypsy Judy is 2 for 5 in her career. She was impressive winning the seven-furlong Wide Country at Laurel in February. "Gypsy Judy has a lot of ability and class, she’s a very efficient mover," Graham said. Gypsy Judy finished third in her last start, the Caesar's Wish Stakes at Laurel. In her other stakes start, she was fourth in the Gin Talking at Laurel. "In her last race, and the Gin Talking, she started to make her move at the three-eighths pole and got stopped," Graham said. "We are going to try and keep her in the clear Friday. Gypsy Judy doesn’t figure to be among the betting favorites in the Black-Eyed Susan but Graham likely has the likely betting choice in the $100,000 Skipat Stakes in Lady Sabelia.

Lady Sabelia had a four-race winning streak that included the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie halted in her last race, the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland. Lady Sabelia went to the lead in the seven-furlong Madison and set a blistering pace of 22.42 and 44.73 while opening up by about four lengths on the far turn. She paid for her early efforts in the stretch, tiring to sixth. “She went too fast, opening up on those type of fillies,” Graham said. “But she’s bounced back great and is coming into Friday’s race very nicely. Maryland rider Horacio Karamanos will ride Lady Sabelia in the six-furlong Skipat and Gypsy Judy in the Black-Eyed Susan.