Taxed roared down the stretch to overtake Hoosier Philly and win the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes by 3 3/4 lengths on Friday at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.
Taxed, who had odds of 11-1, won the famed 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-old fillies in 1:49.45.
The race annually runs the day before the Preakness Stakes, the second part of the Triple Crown.
Taxed was running sixth in the 14-horse field shortly before the half-mile mark and was fourth entering the top of the stretch before making the stellar wide stretch run with jockey Rafael Bejarano aboard.
“Any time you win a race, it’s good,” trainer Randy Morse said, according to BloodHorse.com. “But it’s especially good when you win a race like this.”
Said owner Richard Bahde: “I’m still in a state of shock. We expected something good to happen but you never expect to win a classic race like this. We’re thrilled and couldn’t be happier.”
Hoosier Philly looked in good shape entering the final turn but couldn’t hold off the charge of Taxed.
Faiza, the 3-5 favorite, finished third. It was the first loss in six races for Faiza, who is trained by Bob Baffert.
–Field Level Media
