TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon

 

Who Wants it?

This year’s edition of $300,000 Black-Eyed Susan (G2) is as wide open as the New York Giants’ quarterback competition heading into training camp.

Top contenders in each situation, 3-year-old filly Lemon Muffin and five-year veteran Daniel Jones, have recently delivered underwhelming results despite high expectations.

While the latter is busy fending off former Mizzou standout Drew Lock, the former must contend with Peter Eurton trainee Corposo on Friday afternoon at Pimlico.

Sitting at 1-0-1 through three starts, Corposo fared well in her only graded test thus far finishing third in the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) on Apr. 6.

Unlike Lemon Muffin, who certainly possesses the talent to take the Black-Eyed Susan but has stumbled to consecutive poor showings (seventh in the Grade 2 Fantasy and eighth in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks), Corposo appears to be trending upward at the perfect time.

 

Just a Number

Wine, Cheese, Charlie Morton – all these things get better with age. The same can be said about Starting Over (4-1), a gelding who just won his first graded trophy at seven years old.

It seems the night is still young for the Michael Maker trainee, as he is set for another run at a graded title not one month later. The wily veteran will compete with 10 other challengers for the $250,000 Louisville (G3T) at Churchill Downs on Saturday.

After five middling attempts on the graded circuit dating back to 2020, Starting Over has done exactly that in 2024. What began in late January with a second in the William L. McKnight (G3T) at 41-1, took off in early March with a neck’s difference Mac Diarmida (G2T) triumph at 11-1.

Starting Over’s late-game resurgence is more than a feel-good story.

 

Anybody’s Game

After a stunning performance in the 150^th Kentucky Derby (G1), all eyes, rightfully so, are on Mystik Dan (5-2) leading into the second jewel of the Triple Crown, the $2 million Preakness (G1).

The 3-year-old colt’s path to pulling off the improbable got a little easier with the news that young phenom Muth will not participate after spiking a fever. However, Mystik Dan and rider Brian Hernandez, Jr. still face a considerable challenge from formidable foes Catching Freedom (6-1), Imagination (6-1), and Tuscan Gold (8-1).

Sporting a combined 15: 6-4-2 record with two graded scores, the trio shares a penchant for the podium.

Saturday’s Preakness is especially important for Catching Freedom, who gets his first shot at Mystik Dan after finishing a very close fourth in The Derby (less than two lengths from the winner).

 

The Long Road Back

When you reach the mountain top, the only place to go is down. That’s been the story for Atone (10-1), who’s failed to find the winner’s circle in nine trips since winning the Pegasus World Cup (G1T) last January.

The 7-year-old gelding can put an end to the miserable streak before it reaches double digits with a score in Saturday’s $500,000 Dinner Party (G3T) at Pimlico.

Going off as the undercard event to the Preakness, the 1 1/8-mile turf event is a familiar one for Atone. The Javier Castellano mount finished a close third behind runner-up Tango Tango Tango and closing line choice Set Piece (GB) in last year’s running.

A second last out in the Kentucky Cup Classic (G3) suggests Atone is heading in the right direction, but until the competitor with 32 career starts (7-5-5) finally gets over the hump, we must continue to exercise patience.

 

Where’ve you Been?

Outside of a win at the claiming ranks last time out, 4-year-old filly Leave No Trace (6-1) has stayed true to her title, missing out on the podium in five consecutive starts and winner’s circle in seven.

The Philip Serpe protégé’s next chance to reclaim her old form comes this Saturday at Aqueduct in the $175,000 Vagrancy (G3).

As a rookie, trips to the winner’s circle were relatively frequent for Leave No Trace. After claiming her professional debut on July 20, 2022, the Jose Lezcano pilot snagged the top spot in the Spinaway (G1) some six weeks later. She then followed that up with a third in the Frizette (G1) and second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).

That’s where the good times came to a screeching halt. Leave No Trace’s next five races resulted in finishes of eighth, seventh, eighth, sixth, and eighth.

The skid ended in March, but at a much lower level of competition. Will that be enough to steer the Red Cloak Farm product back on track come Saturday?