How to Bet the Black-Eyed Susan in Connecticut
Bet the Black-Eyed Susan at MyWinners — Race History, Contender Previews, and Betting Insights for Preakness Weekend's Premier Filly Race
Connecticut horse racing fans, Preakness weekend is here — and it's not just about the colts. The night before the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown, the spotlight turns to the fillies in one of the sport's most historic and underrated betting races: the George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes. If you're looking to bet the Black-Eyed Susan in Connecticut, MyWinners has you covered with full pari-mutuel wagering on every race this Preakness weekend.
Here's everything you need to know — history, context, the 2026 field, betting angles, and a few quirks that could shape your ticket.
What Is the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes?
The Black-Eyed Susan Stakes is a Grade 2 thoroughbred race run at 1 1/8 miles on dirt for three-year-old fillies. It carries a $300,000 purse and takes place the day before the Preakness Stakes, making it the anchor of Preakness Friday — a full day of graded stakes action worth over $1 million in total purses.
Think of it as the distaff companion to the Preakness. Just as the Kentucky Oaks pairs with the Kentucky Derby, the Black-Eyed Susan pairs with the middle jewel of the Triple Crown. It's part of what horse racing informally calls the Filly Triple Crown, alongside the Kentucky Oaks and the Acorn Stakes at Belmont.
Race History: Over a Century on the Books
The Black-Eyed Susan has roots going back to 1919, when it was inaugurated as the Pimlico Oaks. That very first edition was won by Milkmaid, who went on to earn U.S. Champion Three-Year-Old Filly honors — and whose owner J.K.L. Ross had quite the year, also landing the first U.S. Triple Crown that season with the colt Sir Barton.
The race ran under the Pimlico Oaks name until 1951, when it was relaunched and rebranded as the Black-Eyed Susan — named for Maryland's state flower and as a nod to the Preakness garland. In 2020, it was officially renamed to honor the late George E. Mitchell, a longtime community leader in Baltimore's Park Heights neighborhood.
Graded stakes status followed in 1973. Among the race's notable alumni are Gallorette, Twilight Tear, Serena's Song, Royal Delta, and Stopchargingmaria — names that span decades and define what elite filly racing looks like in America.
Two trivia notes worth knowing: Nellie Morse is the only filly ever to win both the Black-Eyed Susan and the Preakness Stakes, doing so in 1924. And Davona Dale remains the only filly to sweep the Black-Eyed Susan, Kentucky Oaks, Acorn, Mother Goose, and Coaching Club American Oaks — a five-race clean sweep that has never been replicated.
2026: A Historic First at Laurel Park
The 2026 edition carries an added layer of history. With Pimlico Race Course undergoing a $400 million redevelopment, the entire Preakness weekend — including the Black-Eyed Susan — moves temporarily to Laurel Park in Laurel, Maryland. It's the 102nd running of the race and the first time it has ever been run at Laurel, making this a genuinely one-of-a-kind card for bettors and fans alike.
The race is scheduled for Friday, May 15, with first post at 11:30 AM ET. The Black-Eyed Susan goes as Race 13 on a 14-race card that also includes the Pimlico Special, Miss Preakness, and several listed stakes. Over $1 million in graded purse money is on offer across the Friday card alone.
2026 Contenders and Betting Preview
This year's field shapes up as a genuine wide-open contest. There's no runaway standout, which is exactly the kind of race where smart betting separates the serious players from the crowd. Here's a look at the key contenders.
Contenders at a Glance
| Horse | Post | Trainer | Jockey | Last Race | Angle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miss Fulton Gal | 1 | Mike Gorham | John Velazquez | 4th, Weber City Miss | Last 6 starts at Laurel — course specialist |
| Ivy Girl | 2 | Amelia Green | Victor Carrasco | 1st (27-1), Weber City Miss | Won the key local prep; back-to-back victories |
| Holly's Holiday | 3 | Kenny McPeek | Flavien Prat | 1st (21-1), Valley of the Vapors | Top weight 122 lbs; Prat won this race in 2025 |
| Savor It | 4 | Uriah St. Lewis | Mychel Sanchez | 1st, allowance (Parx) | $5,000 purchase; well-beaten in prior stakes bids |
| Braken Poppa | 5 | Steve Asmussen | Jose Ortiz | 1st (5.5 lengths), Crescent City Oaks | 4-race win streak; first open company test |
| Haute Diva | 6 | Patrick Biancone | Keith Asmussen | Off the board, Gulfstream Oaks | Won at Gulfstream; 0-for-outside-Florida away |
| Jumping the Gun | 7 | Andy Simoff | Julio Hernandez | 3rd (6-5 fav), Weber City Miss | Beaten fave — look for bounce-back at value price |
Braken Poppa — The Louisiana Streaker
The most talked-about filly coming in, Braken Poppa arrives on a four-race win streak for trainer Steve Asmussen — racing's all-time wins leader. She romped by 9.5 lengths in the Charged Cotton Stakes and followed up with a gate-to-wire victory in the Crescent City Oaks. She's never faced open company before, and the class jump is significant. Jose Ortiz retains the mount. Asmussen has yet to win this race despite numerous attempts, which is one of the quirks worth noting on your ticket.
Ivy Girl — The Local Winner
Winner of the Weber City Miss Stakes, the designated local prep for this race, Ivy Girl arrives with back-to-back wins. The Amelia Green trainee — a former Todd Pletcher assistant — pulled off a 27-1 upset in the Weber City Miss with Victor Carrasco aboard. She's a daughter of Maxfield, the same sire as stablemate and Black-Eyed Susan rival Holly's Holiday. Two-turn form is proven. Worth serious consideration at what should be a fair price.
Holly's Holiday — Flavien Prat Takes the Controls
A late-season mover out of Oaklawn, Holly's Holiday won a maiden race and then upset the Valley of the Vapors at 21-1 under Kenny McPeek. She'll carry top weight of 122 pounds under stakes conditions, and Flavien Prat picks up the mount for the first time. Prat won last year's Black-Eyed Susan on Margie's Intention — if he goes back-to-back, he'd become the first jockey to win the race in consecutive years since Javier Castellano in 2014-15.
Jumping the Gun — Redeeming a Beaten Favorite
The 7-5 Weber City Miss favorite ran third when odds-on, which makes her dangerous here at a longer price. She's a Gun Runner filly by John Guarnere's Imaginary Stables — well-bred, capable around two turns, and coming in with a chip on her shoulder. If the race sets up for a closer, she'll be in the mix late.
Miss Fulton Gal — Course Familiarity on Her Side
Six of her last six starts have come at Laurel Park, including two wins and two seconds. While the rest of the field is navigating a new oval, Miss Fulton Gal knows every inch of the Laurel main track. John Velazquez picks up the mount for trainer Mike Gorham. Track bias and familiarity can be decisive in races like this.
Braken Poppa — One More Note
It's worth flagging separately: every runner in this field is stepping into unfamiliar surroundings at a track they haven't run at before — except Miss Fulton Gal. In a race without a dominant favorite, course experience is a real angle.
Recent Black-Eyed Susan Winners
| Year | Winner | Odds | Trainer | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Margie's Intention | — | Brad Cox | Won on a sloppy Pimlico strip; Prat up |
| 2024 | Gun Song | — | — | Velazquez's 5th Black-Eyed Susan win |
| 2023 | Taxed | 15-1 | — | Morning line outsider; longshot trend holds |
| 2022 | Interstatedaydream | 6-1 | — | Third choice on the board |
| 2021 | Army Wife | 8-1 | — | Part of COVID-era Pimlico schedule shift |
| 2020 | Miss Marissa | 12-1 | — | Race run in October; first Mitchell naming |
| 2019 | Proud Emma | — | — | 100th running of the race |
| 2018 | Wow Cat | — | — | — |
| 2017 | Actress | 12-1 | — | Third consecutive double-digit winner |
| 2015 | Keen Pauline | 15-1 | — | Castellano's back-to-back wins (2014–15) |
Betting Angles for the Black-Eyed Susan
A few patterns and trends worth factoring into your ticket:
Longshots land regularly. The 2023 winner went off at 15-1. Miss Marissa won in 2020 at 12-1. Actress was 12-1 in 2017. Keen Pauline paid at 15-1 in 2015. This race consistently produces value winners — keep your exotics wide.
Local form matters. The Weber City Miss has been the key local prep, and its graduates regularly hit the board. Four of the 2026 starters come through that race.
Track condition can be decisive. The 2025 edition was run on a sloppy Pimlico strip after a thunderstorm, and Margie's Intention — who had previously won on slop at Keeneland — ground out the victory. Monitor the Laurel Park forecast going into race day.
Front-runners can survive. Pimlico has historically favored horses with early foot. Laurel's configuration is somewhat different, and the stretch can be demanding for horses who move too early — factor this in when assessing pace scenarios.
Class jumpers show up. Several past winners, including Royal Delta, had sharp class increases into this race. Don't dismiss fillies stepping into graded company for the first time if their allowance or listed form is sharp.
How to Bet the Black-Eyed Susan at MyWinners
Connecticut residents, plus bettors in 35 other states, can bet the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes right now through MyWinners — full pari-mutuel wagering, all pools, all races. With nine Winners venues across Connecticut and online wagering, you're never far from the action.
Win, place, show, exacta, trifecta, superfecta, Daily Double — all available. This is the kind of wide-open race made for multi-leg exotics. Consider using Ivy Girl and Holly's Holiday to anchor your exactas with Jumping the Gun and Miss Fulton Gal underneath as value alternatives.
First post for the Laurel Park card is 11:30 AM ET on Friday, May 15. The Black-Eyed Susan goes as Race 13. Start your wagering session early and play into the Pick 5 that runs through the Black-Eyed Susan — it's where the real money pools up on Preakness Friday.
Bet online at app.mywinners.com, on the MyWinners: Racing & Sports app on iOS or Android, or go here to find your nearest MyWinners or Winners venue in CT.
