Silverbulletday in Black-Eyed Susan

Trainer Bob Baffert confirmed Thursday that Silverbulletday, the second choice on the morning line for the $1-million Preakness, will run instead in today’s $200,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes. Silverbulletday drew an unfavorable outside post for the Preakness.

Trainer Carl Nafzger is also expected to scratch Vicar from the Preakness because of his No. 13 post, which would leave 12 starters for Saturday’s race.

With Silverbulletday out, her rider, Gary Stevens, will shift to Stephen Got Even in the Preakness. Chris McCarron, who had to give up the mount after suffering a hairline fracture in his foot Monday, had been scheduled to ride Stephen Got Even.

Silverbulletday’s defection will not change Pimlico’s original morning-line odds. In post-position order, the odds will be: Torrid Sand, 60-1; Kimberlite Pipe, 20-1; Cat Thief, 8-1; Badge, 50-1; Menifee, 5-2; Charismatic, 6-1; Excellent Meeting, 5-1; Patience Game, 30-1; Adonis, 30-1; Worldly Manner, 12-1; Stephen Got Even, 10-1; Valhol, 99-1; and Vicar, 30-1. Vicar is listed because his scratch is not expected until 45 minutes before the race.

This apparently is going to be a cool but dry Preakness. The forecast is for weather that probably won’t hit 70 degrees, with no rain.