Pope Jude fans kicked off Black-Eyed Susan (G2) day with the chalky VERIFIRE ($2.10) and Saxton exacta ($4.00). POINT DUME ($8.00) kept the ball rolling in the third race. SHARP TONES ($77.20) lit up the tote board for ultra-talented trainer Lynn Ashby in the seventh with favored CANDIED ($3.80) taking the Allaire Dupont Distaff Stakes. PLAY WITH FIRE ($9.00) combined with Pretty Lavish for the exacta ($54.60) in the Hilltop Stakes then MARGIE’S INTENTION ($7.00) won the Black-Eyed Susan (G2) with Paris Lily running second for a $42.60 exacta. The last race was canceled due to darkness.
The run continued in the opener on Preakness (G1) day with AUGUSTA MELODY ($3.80). Another chalk, VARNEY ($3.60) broke his maiden in the third and the speedy BOOTH ($3.80) posed for pictures in the Maryland Sprint (G3). ZEITLOS ($8.40) took the Skipat Stakes with Striker Has Dial second for a $26.60 exacta. Celebrity chef Bobby Flay’s CRUDO ($9.40) captured the Sir Barton Stakes combining with Just a Fair Shake for a $48.80 exacta. Nobody was shocked when REAGAN’S WIT ($3.00) won the James W. Murphy or when JOURNALISM ($4.00) took the 150th Preakness (G1). It was the tenacity of the Michael McCarthy trainee that fans will remember the rest of their lives. DIAMOND GEM AA ($2.80) defended his crown in the UAE President Cup (G1) under jockey Carol Cedeno to close out the final “Old Pimlico” card.