Black-Eyed Susan Day: The Day in Pictures

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That's Fiftyshadesofhay with jockey Joel Rosario up for trainer Bob Baffert after winning the 89th running of the Grade 2 $500,000 Black-Eyed Susan (BES) Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. I arrived yesterday morning and moved around the track all day enjoying the brilliant sunshine and great day of racing that Pimlico serves up on the eve of the Preakness Stakes.

My recap on the BES for The Buffalo News can be found here. In the finale, Bona Venture Stables' Summer of Fun lost a photo in the Old Hilltop Stakes. I spoke with managing partner Dan Collins this morning who said "She came out fine, a little tired. She's just got to learn to keep the lead, that's twice now." She'll likely point towards the Virginia Oaks at Colonial or the Lake George at Saratoga later this summer.

It's a little overcast, but hoping any rain showers will hold off for today. the infield is starting to fill up and the first race goes off at 10:45 a.m. on what is the longest day of racing of the year. Later today I'll be live blogging (starting around 3:00 p.m. at the Sports, Ink blog.

I went with Orb in this morning's paper, but will be protecting against a second place finish with some exacta boxes and perhaps a trifecta keying him in second, should something go awry or if he has to play catch up a la Animal Kingdom.

Here's a look at some pictures from yesterday's travels...

Marathon Lady - second in BES,
Robby Albarado up

Toasting - West Point Thoroughbreds
Javier Castellano in the irons

Fiftyshadesofhay wins the BES

Bob Baffert

Shug McGaughey and Bill Mott

Emotional Kitten - Old Hilltop winner
Joel Rosario aboard for the Ramseys

Chad Brown and Castellano discuss
Premier Step's trip

Doug O'Neill after the Old Hilltop
with Birdlover

View from the Turfside Terrace
one of the best in all of racing

Orb on Preakness morning
in traditional stall 40

That's a wrap on the Black-Eyed Susan....good luck everyone.