Bob Baffert’s Faiza Favored to Win Black-Eyed Susan Stakes: Odds, Picks, and Predictions
The Black-Eyed Susan Stakes is a Grade 2 race for three-year-old fillies that takes place annually at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. This year’s race is set to take place on May 14th, and Bob Baffert’s Faiza is currently the favorite to win.
Faiza is a bay filly by Medaglia d’Oro out of the mare Dreaming of Julia. She was bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC and was purchased by her current owners, West Point Thoroughbreds and Marvin Delfiner, for $1.2 million at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in 2019.
Faiza made her racing debut on January 24th, 2021, at Santa Anita Park, where she finished second in a maiden special weight race. She then won her next two starts, both allowance races at Santa Anita, before finishing second in the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes on March 7th.
Faiza’s most recent start was in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks on April 3rd, where she finished fourth behind winner Soothsay. Despite the disappointing finish, Faiza’s connections remain confident in her abilities and believe she has what it takes to win the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes.
Currently, Faiza is listed as the 5-2 favorite to win the race, according to odds provided by TwinSpires. Her main competition is expected to come from Army Wife, who is listed at 3-1 odds, and Will’s Secret, who is listed at 4-1 odds.
Army Wife is a bay filly by Declaration of War out of the mare Soldiersingsblues. She was bred in Kentucky by Kendall E. Hansen MD, and was purchased by her current owners, Three Diamonds Farm, for $190,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in 2019.
Army Wife has won two of her five career starts, including the Grade 3 Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs on March 6th. Her most recent start was a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Gazelle Stakes at Aqueduct on April 3rd.
Will’s Secret is a bay filly by Will Take Charge out of the mare Girls Secret. She was bred in Kentucky by Willis Horton Racing LLC and was purchased by her current owners, Willis Horton Racing LLC, for $280,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in 2019.
Will’s Secret has won three of her seven career starts, including the Grade 3 Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 6th. Her most recent start was a second-place finish in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on April 30th.
While Faiza is the favorite to win the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, Army Wife and Will’s Secret are both formidable opponents who could pull off an upset. It will be interesting to see how the race plays out and which filly will come out on top.
