McCarron Rides Family Style to Win in Pimlico’s Black-Eyed Susan Stakes

Family Style, last year’s champion 2-year-old filly, ended an eight-race losing streak Friday, easily winning the $153,400 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes by 3 lengths at Pimlico.

The win, worth $100,385 to Family Style’s owners, Eugene and Joyce Klein of Rancho Santa Fe, was Family Style’s first since the Frizette last November at Belmont Park.

Family Style, whose rider, Chris McCarron, was winning his third race of the day, went over the $1 million mark in career earnings.

Running 1 1/16 miles in 1:45 3/5, Family Style paid $2.80 to win as the heavy favorite. Steel Maiden was second, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Firgie’s Jule. The rest of the order was She’s a Mystery, Tulindas, Timelessleigh, Pretty Tricky and Spring Debut.

Family Style broke alertly and raced within striking distance of Steel Maiden, taking the lead near the three-sixteenths pole.

“She broke like a bullet, the best she’s ever broke,” said McCarron, who will ride Broad Brush in today’s Preakness. “She showed surprising speed, and I had a lot of horse when I needed it.”

Trainer Wayne Lukas said Family Style will probably run next in the Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park June 14. The Lukas-Klein combination will try to win the Preakness today with Clear Choice.