Shimmering Aspen breezes for possible start in Black-Eyed Susan

Hillwood Stables’ 3-year-old filly Shimmering Aspen breezed six furlongs Thursday morning at historic Pimlico Race Course for a likely start in the $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan (G2) Friday, May 19.

 

Jockey Steve ‘Cowboy’ Hamilton was aboard for the work, which went in 1:15 over a fast main track. Laurel Park-based trainer Rodney Jenkins said Shimmering Aspen, an impressive winner of her last three starts, galloped out seven furlongs in 1:27 and a mile in 1:43.

 

Jenkins and Hillwood’s Ellen Charles, whose mother bred and raced horses in Maryland and father was a steward at Maryland tracks for many years, were at Pimlico to watch the work.

 

“It was actually a great work. She didn’t break the watch,” Jenkins said. “I was real happy. She had never been out of Laurel. What we did today was try to get her used to everything without ringing her bell. She handled everything so far wonderfully. I was real pleased.”

 

Shimmering Aspen, a gray or roan daughter of Malibu Moon, is nominated to both the 1 1/8-mile Black-Eyed Susan and the $150,000 Adena Springs Miss Preakness (G3), contested at six furlongs on the same day.

 

Third in her career debut last August, Shimmering Aspen has reeled off three straight victories by 16 ¼ lengths combined. She has never run further than seven furlongs, her most recent start April 29, where she led all the way in a seven-length romp under a hand ride from Hamilton.

 

“We like her. We hope she’s as good as we think she is,” Jenkins said. “We’ll go over it, Mrs. Charles and me, and we’ll decide where to go in the next day or so.”

 

Among the horses expected to run in the Black-Eyed Susan are a pair from Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Todd Pletcher, maiden winner Moana and Lights of Medina, who earned an automatic berth with her victory in the Weber City Miss April 22; Grade 2-placed Summer Luck and Torrent, most recently fourth in the Fantasy (G3) April 14.