My Miss Mo Ready to Go in Black-Eyed Susan Stakes

My Miss Mo may not have been ready for the Kentucky Oaks (G1), but she certainly seems on edge for the May 15 George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) at Laurel Park. While trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. scratched the Uncle Mo filly out of the May 1 Kentucky Oaks, the 3-year-old filly continued to train sharply for a trip to Maryland and a date in the $300,000 stakes for 3-year-old fillies. "The last race (in the Gulfstream Park Oaks) was pretty solid and I feel like the horse that beat her at Gulfstream (Prom Queen) had a troubled trip in the (Kentucky) Oaks so her form seems like it should stack up well," Joseph said. "I think she should have a pretty decent chance." My Miss Mo was second in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) after finishing second in the Davona Dale Stakes (G2) in her previous start. Owned by Averill Racing, Mathis Stable, and Tristan de Meric, My Miss Mo has only one win in five career starts, but that lone victory was a 12-length romp in a Florida-bred maiden special weight test. Jumping the Gun was installed as the 3-1 morning-line favorite in the cornerstone stakes off a third as the 7-5 favorite in the Weber City Miss Stakes at Laurel. The filly, owned by Imaginary Stables and trained by Andrew Simoff, has never been worse than third in six career starts. Prior to the Weber City Miss, the Gun Runner filly was second in the Demoiselle Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack. Braken Poppa will take on graded stakes company after dominating the Louisiana-bred ranks. An Aurelius Maximus filly trained by Steve Asmussen, she has won four straight starts, the last two coming in state-bred stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. This will be her first start in open company for owners Bradley Kent, Ken Reimer, and Madaket Stables. "She's a beauty. You hope they're all going to be that good," Reimer said. "She likes to go to the lead, and she runs fast. She's a handful, though. She's an absolute handful. She always gets a little fractious and all the morning riders say she's tough to ride, but she likes to go and she's got a lot of heart. I love that horse." The field of 10 also features Ivy Girl, who rallied from eighth to win the Weber City Miss at 26-1. It marked a second straight stakes win for the daughter of Maxfield who previously captured the Main Line Stakes at Parx Racing. Owned by Lucky Hat Racing, Ivy Girl is trained by Amelia Green. C R K Stable's A. P.'s Girl was second by a half-length in the Weber City Miss, which snapped a two-race winning streak. An Honor A. P. 3-year-old, she has two wins in eight starts for trainer Peter Eurton. Holly's Holiday, owned by 4 G Racing, Gregg Day, and Steven and Holly Crain, captured the Valley Of The Vapors Stakes at Oaklawn Park in her last start for trainer Ken McPeek.