Always Shopping leads probables for Pimlico's Black-Eyed Susan

After a final timed workout this week at Belmont Park, Always Shopping is "on schedule," trainer Todd Pletcher says, for next Friday's Grade 2, $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico Race Course.

The last-out winner of Aqueduct's Gazelle (G2) skipped the Kentucky Oaks in favor of this spot, also at 1 1/8 miles.

"She's doing very well," Pletcher told the NYRA Press Office on Thursday. "I thought she looked good this morning and she seems to be training very consistently."

A daughter of Awesome Again campaigned by Repole Stable, Always Shopping will lack her biggest-name possible rival in the Black-Eyed Susan after connections to Oaks runner-up Liora instead settled on Belmont Park's June 8 Acorn (G1) as that filly's next spot.

Set to challenge, however, are a pair of runners who just missed out on running the first Friday in May.

Cookie Dough, who has raced exclusively at Gulfstream Park in seven career starts, will ship North to Pimlico for a third consecutive start in Grade 2 company. Point of Honor, who finished just behind Cookie Dough last out in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), is also expected in the Black-Eyed Susan.

Brill, who debuted impressively last summer for the connections of Jerry Hollendorfer and OXO Equine, has yet to find the winner's circle since then. But she ran third last time in Oaklawn Park's Fantasy Stakes (G3) and will try again in the Black-Eyed Susan.

At 2, the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro also finished third Chandelier Stakes  (G1) and fourth in the Del Mar Debutante (G1).

New York-bred Pat’s No Fool, winner of the Maddie May Stakes at Aqueduct; Maryland-bred Las Setas, who is riding a four-race winning streak; and recent Brendan Walsh-trained Keeneland maiden winner Sundaysatthebeach also figure to join the fray.

Finally, Our Super Freak, a Laurel Park regular that finished on the board in her last five stakes races, will likely take a swing at the competition. 

“I really don’t have anything else for her," said trainer Jamie Ness, "so this might be a time to take a shot.”

The Black-Eyed Susan goes as the 11th of 14 races on a card featuring four graded stakes. Post time for the feature will be 4:48 p.m. ET.