Preakness notes: Go Maggie Go wins Black-Eyed Susan Stakes

Trainer Dale Romans was feeling good about his first- and second-place finishes in the $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on Friday.

Go Maggie Go went to front, settled in second and took the lead on the far turn to beat Ma Can Do It by 2 1/2 lengths.

“I wish I had boxed the exacta,” Romans joked. “I only had it one way, 4-5 [Ma Can Do It over Go Maggie Go].”

It’s highly unlikely there was even a shred of truth in that, as Go Maggie Go was essentially the co-favorite with Land Over Sea just shy of 2-1 and Ma Can Do It was 50-1.

It was the third win in four starts for Go Maggie Go, who, along with Kentucky Oaks winner Cathryn Sophia, who did not run in the Black-Eyed Susan, can lay claim to being the best 3-year-old filly currently running.

Romans was asked about looking forward to running against the best 3-year-old filly not currently running: Songbird.

“No, no,” Romans said emphatically. “She needs to run against some colts. The Travers, the Haskell will be very nice for Songbird. You never look forward to running against a horse of that caliber, but I’m just looking forward to the rest of the year with my filly.”

Friday was supposed to be Songbird’s second win in the unofficial filly Triple Crown after what was expected to be a win in the Kentucky Oaks. She has never even been tested in her seven wide-margin victories. The final leg is the Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park on June 11 and Cathryn Sophia is scheduled to run.

But Songbird, the Santa Anita-based filly, running for Jerry Hollendorfer, was pulled from racing after contracting a low-grade fever after winning the Santa Anita Oaks in the rain. Nothing has been announced, but one possibility for Songbird’s return would be the Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita on June 18.

Land Over Sea, running for the Nyquist connections of Doug O’Neill and Paul Reddam, had a troubled trip in the Black-Eyed Susan and finished sixth. Jockey Mario Gutierrez was almost standing up on the filly entering the first turn when the quarters got too tight, and there was a traffic jam on the backstretch. She was never in a position to make a run.

“He had a bad trip, but it looks like her and the rider came back in good shape,” O’Neill said. “We’ll be all right. Tomorrow is the big day.”

Wet weather

The week started with a 100% chance for rain for Saturday’s Preakness Day card. But the numbers have dropped to between 50% and 70%. According to weather.com, the heaviest rain should occur between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. and then turn to showers through the 6:45 p.m. EDT start of the Preakness.

Last year’s Preakness, won by Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, was run in a heavy downpour. Neither Nyquist nor Exaggerator seems to have a problem with a wet surface.