Horse racing notes: Unbeaten Faiza the favorite in Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico

SANTA ANITA LEADERS

Through Thursday

JOCKEYS / WINS

Juan Hernandez / 15

Umberto Rispoli / 10

Hector Berrios / 9

Three tied / 8

TRAINERS / WINS

Philip D’Amato / 9

Mark Glatt / 8

Bob Baffert / 6

Peter Eurton / 6

Peter Miller / 6

WEEKEND STAKES (SANTA ANITA)

Saturday

• $100,000 Grade III San Luis Rey Stakes, 4-year-olds and up, 1½ miles (turf)

DOWN THE STRETCH

• Bob Baffert has 7-5 morning-line favorite Faiza in Friday’s Grade II Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico. Unbeaten in five races, Faiza won the Grade II Santa Anita Oaks on April 8 and will be ridden by Flavien Prat. In addition to National Treasure, Baffert will also send out Arabian Lion (2-5 on morning line) in the Sir Barton Stakes and Havnameltdown (8-5 favorite) in the Grade III Chick Lang. Arabian Lion finished second in the Grade III Lexington Stakes on April 15 behind First Mission, the second choice in the Preakness at 5-2.

• Peter Eurton is off to a blazing start during the Hollywood Meet at Santa Anita. Entering Friday’s eight-race card, Eurton has won at a 33% clip (6 for 18). Even when he’s not winning, his horses are right there. On Sunday, he sent out 15-1 longshot Warrior Lady for a second-place finish in a maiden special weight. Eurton is tied for third in the trainer standings with Baffert and Peter Miller. “It’s just having horses with conditions and being patient,” Eurton told Victor Ryan of Santa Anita publicity. “Running them where they are seemingly at their best, and finding the right spots, distance or otherwise.”

• Brickyard Ride, the speedball who won the Grade III Kona Gold Stakes at Santa Anita on April 22, worked 5 furlongs in 1:00.60 at Santa Anita on Sunday in anticipation of a start next weekend. A 6-year-old California bred, he’s scheduled to run in either the Grade III Triple Bend Stakes on Saturday, May 27, or the ungraded Crystal Water Stakes at 1 mile on the turf on Sunday, May 28. Trainer Craig Lewis is waiting to see the nominations for both stakes before deciding which race to enter. Brickyard Ride ran in last year’s Triple Bend and finished fifth.

— Art Wilson

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