# Black-Eyed Susan Stakes

The George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies run over a distance of 1+1⁄8 miles on the dirt annually at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. The event currently offers a purse of $300,000

## History

The event was inaugurated in 1919 as the Pimlico Oaks and was renamed in 1952 to its present name to complement the Preakness Stakes and to acknowledge the Maryland State flower. The inaugural edition was won by Milkmaid who went on to earn United States Champion 3-Yr-Old Filly honors. Milkmaid's owner J. K. L. Ross had a very good 1919 racing campaign, also winning the first U.S. Triple Crown with the colt Sir Barton.
The Black-Eyed Susan was given graded stakes race status in 1973.
Twenty-three fillies that won The Black-Eyed Susan went on to be named a Champion according to the Maryland Jockey Club, those fillies include; Royal Delta, Silverbulletday, Serena's Song, Family Style, Davona Dale, What a Summer, My Juliet, Office Queen, Process Shot, Airmans Guide, High Voltage, Real Delight, Wistful III, But Why Not, Gallorette, Twilight Tear, Vagrancy, Fairy Chant, Nellie Morse, Maid at Arms, Careful, Cleopatra and Milkmaid.
Davona Dale is the only filly to win the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, Kentucky Oaks, Acorn Stakes, Mother Goose Stakes, and Coaching Club American Oaks. Nellie Morse is the only winner to also win the Preakness Stakes.
As a result of the entire Preakness Stakes being run behind closed doors, on August 21, 2020, Pimlico announced the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes will move to the Preakness Stakes card instead of being run on Friday, before, moving the event to the main NBC broadcast. On October 1, 2020, the race was officially renamed the George E. Mitchell Stakes in memory of the longtime Park Heights community leader who had died in 2020.

## Filly Triple Crown

In its 95th running as of 2019, the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes is one of three races that are the de facto distaff counterparts to the Triple Crown races, along with the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs and the Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park. These races have been unofficially referred to as the "Filly Triple Crown." Three races run at Belmont and Saratoga Race Course in New York are also called the Triple Tiara to avoid trademark conflicts. However, consideration has been given within the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), the sport's governing body in the United States, to change the Triple Tiara series to the Kentucky Oaks, the George E. Mitchell Stakes and the Mother Goose Stakes.

## Records

Speed record:
* 1-1⁄8 miles - 1:47.83 - Silverbulletday (1999)
* 1-1⁄16 miles - 1:41 2/5 - Lucky Lucky Lucky (1984)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 5 - John R. Velazquez (1998, 2003, 2005, 2012 & 2024)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 4 - D. Wayne Lukas (1984, 1986, 1989 & 1995)
* 4 - Todd A. Pletcher (2005, 2007, 2012 & 2014)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade |
| 2024 | Gun Song | John R. Velazquez | Mark A. Hennig | R. Lee Lewis | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.39 | $300,000 | II |
| 2023 | Taxed | Rafael Bejarano | Randy L. Morse | NET Racing, Michael Dubb, First Row Partners & Team Hanley | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.45 | $250,000 | II |
| 2022 | Interstatedaydream | Florent Geroux | Brad H. Cox | Flurry Racing Stables | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.73 | $250,000 | II |
| 2021 | Army Wife | Joel Rosario | Michael J. Maker | Three Diamonds Farm | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.63 | $250,000 | II |
| 2020 | Miss Marissa | Daniel E. Centeno | James T. Ryerson | Alfonso Cammarota | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.08 | $250,000 | II |
| 2019 | Point of Honor | Javier Castellano | George Weaver | Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:47.88 | $250,000 | II |
| 2018 | Red Ruby | Paco Lopez | Kellyn Gorder | Steven Nicholson | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.17 | $300,000 | II |
| 2017 | Actress | Nik Juarez | Jason Servis | Gary & Mary West | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.87 | $300,000 | II |
| 2016 | Go Maggie Go | Luis Saez | Dale L. Romans | Mike Tarp | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.81 | $250,000 | II |
| 2015 | Keen Pauline | Javier Castellano | Dale L. Romans | Stonestreet Stables | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.46 | $250,000 | II |
| 2014 | Stopchargingmaria | Javier Castellano | Todd A. Pletcher | Mike Repole | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.79 | $500,000 | II |
| 2013 | Fiftyshadesofhay | Joel Rosario | Bob Baffert | Mike Pegram & Karl Watson | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:52.73 | $500,000 | II |
| 2012 | In Lingerie | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Gary Barber & Eclipse Thoroughbreds | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:52.07 | $300,000 | II |
| 2011 | Royal Delta | Jose Lezcano | William I. Mott | Palides Investments | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.60 | $250,000 | II |
| 2010 | Acting Happy | Jose Lezcano | Richard Dutrow Jr. | Jay Em Ess Stable | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.00 | $200,000 | II |
| 2009 | Payton d'Oro | Terry Thompson | J. Larry Jones | John Ferris & M. Presley | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.75 | $150,000 | II |
| 2008 | Sweet Vendetta | Channing Hill | Gary C. Contessa | Team Penney Racing | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49:60 | $150,000 | II |
| 2007 | Panty Raid | Edgar Prado | Todd A. Pletcher | Glencrest Farm, LLC | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.07 | $250,000 | II |
| 2006 | Regal Engagement † | Ramon Dominguez | Thomas M. Bush | Mark D. Spitzer | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.11 | $250,000 | II |
| 2005 | Spun Sugar | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Frank Stronach | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:53.27 | $200,000 | II |
| 2004 | Yearly Report | Jerry Bailey | Bob Baffert | Golden Eagle Farm | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:52.65 | $200,000 | II |
| 2003 | Roar Emotion | John R. Velazquez | Carlos A. Martin | H. Joseph Allen | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:52.33 | $200,000 | II |
| 2002 | Chamrousse | Jerry Bailey | Niall O'Callaghan | Arthur B. Hancock III & James Stone | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.61 | $200,000 | II |
| 2001 | Two Item Limit | Richard Migliore | Stephen L. DiMauro | Joseph F. Graffeo | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.84 | $200,000 | II |
| 2000 | Jostle | Kent Desormeaux | John Servis | Fox Hill Farms Inc. (Richard C. Porter II) | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:52.56 | $200,000 | II |
| 1999 | Silverbulletday | Gary Stevens | Bob Baffert | Mike Pegram | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:47.83 | $200,000 | II |
| 1998 | Added Gold | John R. Velazquez | John P. Campo | Stonerside Stable | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.75 | $200,000 | II |
| 1997 | Salt It | Carlos H. Marquez Jr. | Deborah Bodner | Deborah Bodner | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.52 | $200,000 | II |
| 1996 | Mesabi Maiden | Mike E. Smith | Shug McGaughey | Stuart S. Janney III | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.00 | $200,000 | II |
| 1995 | Serena's Song | Gary Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | Robert B. Lewis & Beverly Lewis | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.45 | $200,000 | II |
| 1994 | Calipha | Rick Wilson | Bud Delp | Nancy Bayard | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.12 | $200,000 | II |
| 1993 | Aztec Hill | Mike E. Smith | Tom Bohannan | Loblolly Stable | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.78 | $200,000 | II |
| 1992 | Miss Legality | Chris McCarron | Sonny Hine | Norton Waltuch | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.11 | $250,000 | II |
| 1991 | Wide Country | Santos N. Chavez | Robert W. Camac | Tommy Tanner | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.26 | $250,000 | II |
| 1990 | Charon | Craig Perret | Eugene Navarro | Stanley M. Ersoff | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.40 | $250,000 | II |
| 1989 | Imaginary Lady | Gary Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | Joe & Marion Conrad | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.20 | $250,000 | II |
| 1988 | Costly Shoes | Pat Day | Ross Pearce | Buckland Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.80 | $150,000 | II |
| 1987 | Grecian Flight | Craig Perret | Joseph H. Pierce Jr. | Henry C. B. Lindh | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.20 | $150,000 | II |
| 1986 | Family Style | Chris McCarron | D. Wayne Lukas | Eugene V. Klein | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.60 | $150,000 | II |
| 1985 | Koluctoos Jill | Chris McCarron | Bruce N. Levine | Brandy Hills Farm (Robert L. Levine) | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.00 | $150,000 | II |
| 1984 | Lucky Lucky Lucky | Angel Cordero Jr. | D. Wayne Lukas | Leslie Combs III | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.20 | $150,000 | II |
| 1983 | Batna | Lisa D. Ruch | Glenn L. Ballenger | Gordon Grayson | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.40 | $125,000 | II |
| 1982 | Delicate Ice | Don Brumfield | James W. Murphy | Stephen N. Connor | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.60 | $125,000 | II |
| 1981 | Dame Mysterieuse | Eddie Maple | Woody Stephens | Hickory Tree Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.20 | $125,000 | II |
| 1980 | Weber City Miss | Vincent Bracciale Jr. | Howard M. Tesher | H. Joseph Allen | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.40 | $125,000 | II |
| 1979 | Davona Dale | Jorge Velásquez | John M. Veitch | Calumet Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.60 | $125,000 | II |
| 1978 | Caesars Wish | Danny Ray Wright | Richard W. Small | Sally M. Gibson | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.20 | $91,850 | II |
| 1977 | Small Raja | Angel Cordero Jr. | Thomas J. Kelly | David P. Reynolds | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.80 | $91,850 | II |
| 1976 | What A Summer | Chris McCarron | Bud Delp | Milton Polinger | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.40 | $63,150 | II |
| 1975 | My Juliet | Alan Hill | Eugene Euster | George Weasel Jr. | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.00 | $63,150 | II |
| 1974 | Blowing Rock | Anthony Agnello | Woody Stephens | Edward Fanning | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.00 | $39,600 | II |
| 1973 | Fish Wife | Dan Gargan | George T. Poole | Cornelius V. Whitney | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.00 | $39,600 | II |
| 1972 | Summer Guest | Ron Turcotte | Lucien Laurin | Rokeby Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.00 | $37,800 | |
| 1971 | At Arm's Length | Ronnie Barnes | Ned Allard | Larking Hill Farm (Fendall M. Clagett) | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.20 | $37,800 | |
| 1970 | Office Queen | Carlos H. Marquez Sr. | Budd Lepman | Stephen A. Calder | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.80 | $37,800 | |
| 1969 | Process Shot | Chuck Baltazar | J. Bowes Bond | Elberon Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.00 | $37,800 | |
| 1968 | Singing Rain | Garth Patterson | Oscar White | Walter M. Jeffords Jr. | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.20 | $37,800 | |
| 1967 | Farest Nan | Oswaldo Rosado | Eugene Giuffra | June M. Benson | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.00 | $31,500 | |
| 1966 | Holly - O | Joe Culmone | Robert W. Camac | Guy H. Burt | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.80 | $31,500 | |
| 1965 | Sue Baru | Ronnie Witmer | John D. Boruff | Mrs. Donelson Christmas | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:48.40 | $26,000 | |
| 1964 | Bold Queen | Tommy Lee | William C. Winfrey | Wheatley Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:47.00 | $26,650 | |
| 1963 | Nalee | Wayne Chambers | Horatio Luro | Vernon G. Cardy | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.80 | $26,650 | |
| 1962 | Batter Up | Larry Adams | Jim Fitzsimmons | Wheatley Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.80 | $27,000 | |
| 1961 | Funloving | Bobby Ussery | Jim Fitzsimmons | Ogden Phipps | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.80 | $26,650 | |
| 1960 | Airmans Guide | Willie Harmatz | Burton B. Williams | Hugh A. Grant Sr. | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.20 | $24,750 | |
| 1959 | Toluene | Karl Korte | Yevgeni Gottlieb | Elmendorf Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:48.80 | $25,000 | |
| 1958 | Daumay | Chris Rogers | Steve S. Birosak | Howard A. Jones | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.60 | $27,000 | |
| 1957 | Pillow Talk | Bill Hartack | Maurice H. Dudley | Hal Price Headley | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.00 | $29,000 | |
| 1956 | Princess Turia | Bill Hartack | Jimmy Jones | Calumet Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.60 | $25,800 | |
| 1955 | High Voltage | Eddie Arcaro | Jim Fitzsimmons | Wheatley Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.20 | $28,500 | |
| 1954 | Queen Hopeful | Eddie Arcaro | Harry Trotsek | Hasty House Farm (Allie E. Reuben) | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.80 | $27,500 | |
| 1953 | Spinning Top | Charlie Burr | J. Bowes Bond | John S. Phipps | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:47.20 | $30,000 | |
| 1952 | Real Delight | Eddie Arcaro | Horace A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.80 | $27,500 | |
| 1951 | Discreet | George Hettinger | William F. Mulholland | George D. Widener Jr. | 1+3⁄16 miles | 2:01.20 | $14,000 | |
| 1950 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| 1949 | Wistful | Steve Brooks | Horace A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.40 | $17,000 | |
| 1948 | Scattered | Warren Mehrtens | Max Hirsch | King Ranch | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:50.60 | $18,000 | |
| 1947 | But Why Not | Warren Mehrtens | Max Hirsch | King Ranch | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.40 | $24,250 | |
| 1946 | Red Shoes | Carson Kirk | Thomas D. Rodrock | Howell E. Jackson III | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:49.40 | $32,650 | |
| 1945 | Gallorette | George Woolf | Edward Christmas | William L. Brann | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.40 | $33,500 | |
| 1944 | Twilight Tear | Conn McCreary | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.20 | $27,350 | |
| 1943 | Askmenow | Carroll Bierman | Kenneth Osborne | Hal Price Headley | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.80 | $17,000 | |
| 1942 | Vagrancy | Tommy Malley | Jim Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.60 | $16,300 | |
| 1941 | Cis Marion | G. Smith | R. Thomas Smith | Ella K. Bryson | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.60 | $16,300 | |
| 1940 | Fairy Chant | Ralph Neves | Richard E. Handlen | Foxcatcher Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:49.80 | $19,200 | |
| 1939 | Alms | Charley Stevenson | Anthony Pelleteri | Mrs. Anthony Pelleteri | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:47.80 | $17,000 | |
| 1938 | Sketchbook | Nick Wall | Jules Wessler | William J. Hirsch | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.20 | $14,000 | |
| 1937 | Sweet Desire | Willie Saunders | George Conway | Glen Riddle Farm | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:54.80 | $3,875 | |
| 1932 | - 1936 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| 1931 | Dark Magnet | Alfred Robertson | Andy Schuttinger | Willis Sharpe Kilmer | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:47.00 | $4,650 | |
| 1930 | Flimsy | Alfred Robertson | Fred Hopkins | Harry Payne Whitney | 1 mi 70 yds | 1:45.00 | $8,300 | |
| 1929 | Altitude | George Fields | Robert Augustus Smith | Audley Farm Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:49.60 | $7,950 | |
| 1928 | Princess Tina | George Fields | Robert Augustus Smith | Audley Farm Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.40 | $7,000 | |
| 1927 | Pandera | Whitey Abel | Fred Hopkins | Harry Payne Whitney | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:48.40 | $7,415 | |
| 1926 | Rapture | George Ellis | James G. Rowe Sr. | Harry Payne Whitney | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.80 | $7,380 | |
| 1925 | Maid at Arms | Albert Johnson | George Conway | Samuel Riddle | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.00 | $7,380 | |
| 1924 | Nellie Morse | John Mérimée | Alex Gordon | Bud Fisher | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:48.00 | $6,250 | |
| 1923 | Gadfly | Linus McAtee | James G. Rowe Sr. | Harry Payne Whitney | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.60 | $8,085 | |
| 1922 | Dinahmeur | Albert Johnson | Eugene Wayland | Willis Sharpe Kilmer | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:47.00 | $6,425 | |
| 1921 | Careful | Frank Keogh | Eugene Wayland | Walter J. Salmon Sr. | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:49.80 | $6,000 | |
| 1920 | Cleopatra | Linus McAtee | William H. Karrick | William R. Coe | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:53.00 | $6,100 | |
| 1919 | Milkmaid | Earl Sande | John E. Madden | J.K.L. Ross | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:51.40 | $6,100 | |
Notes:
† Smart N Pretty won the 2006 race but was disqualified from first place for interference.
The 16 fillies whose name appear in Bold were named either (14) American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly or (8) American Champion Older Female Horse and in (6) cases they were named Champion in both divisions.