Bayonne Takes Opening Race on Black-Eyed Susan Card

Cramer Racing LLC’s Bayonne rallied from off the pace to win the $40,000 Kattegat’s Pride Starter Handicap,  the first race of today’s Black-Eyed Susan Day program.

Ridden by Erik Ramirez, the 5-year-old daughter of Dance With Ravens was sent to post as the 8-5 favorite in the field of nine registered Maryland-bred fillies and mares. She did not disappoint. Bayonne got up in the final jumps to beat Side by Side, with Franstein finishing third.

Bayonne is trained by Jeffrey Cramer and is based at Charles Town. Her previous best effort was a victory in the Pink Ribbon Stakes at the West Virginia track in September of 2012.

The winner paid $5.20.

KATTEGAT’S PRIDE QUOTES

Jeffrey Cramer (winning trainer, Bayonne) –“She ran in this race last year and finished last. This year, we gave her more time. Last year, she came off eight days; this time, 27 days. The plan was to wait and let the speed go and when the speed stopped to go get them. We claimed her in January 2012 at Penn National for $6250 and she has made more than $125,000 for us. She is a half to Eighttofasttocatch, who’s running in the Pimlico Special.”

Erik Ramirez (winning jockey, Bayonne) – “No problems out of the gate or really in the rest of the race. She just took off at the end. I knew I had it, but I was worried that she might get scared when she saw all of that Preakness stuff in the stretch.