How to bet the 2021 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes

A well-matched field of 10 three-year-old fillies will travel 1 1/8 miles in Friday’s $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan S. (G2) at Pimlico.

Black-Eyed Susan Analysis

#3 Spritz has shown solid early foot in her last pair and figures to vie for the lead early on. #6 Iced Latte, #9 Adventuring, and #10 Beautiful Gift will each be tracking the expected pace. The tempo will not be especially swift.

Black-Eyed Susan Contenders

#1 ARMY WIFE --  Mike Maker pupil is well drawn on the rail as a top-three contender. Daughter of Declaration of War finished third in the Gazelle S. (G3) last time out and is eligible to improve in her second try at the trip. Joel Rosario riding is a plus.

#2 WILLFUL WOMAN -- Dark bay Nyquist filly came home with good energy to take an allowance tilt at Oaklawn Park most recently. Kentucky-bred from the Steve Asmussen shedrow was dusted in her lone graded appearance to date, and she will need to take a big step forward to upset this cast under Ricardo Santana Jr.

#3 SPRITZ -- Gray filly led to the stretch before finishing second in the Bourbonette Oaks in her latest voyage for Rudolphe Brisset. The daughter of Awesome Again is clearly improving, but she is something of a mystery on the synthetic-to-dirt move on Saturday. Flavien Prat inherits the mount.

#4 FOREVER BOSS -- Sneaky longshot from the Kenny McPeek barn aced her dirt debut at Keeneland when coming home a convincing allowance heroine most recently. The daughter of Tapiture has been outrun in two stakes tries to date, but she has some appeal in her second try on the dirt. Jose Ortiz has the call.

#5 LADY TRAVELER -- Dale Romans trainee has displayed a decent turn of foot on occasion and could challenge for a share with her best performance on Saturday. Inconsistent Quality Road filly is training in swift fashion as of late, and the move to pick up Javier Castellano is a positive one as well.

#6 ICED LATTE -- Lightly raced Todd Pletcher pupil makes her stakes debut following a runner-up allowance finish at Belmont Park. Mike Repole color bearer has speed and ability, and she has as much room for improvement as any contender in the field. Luis Saez will have the dark bay forwardly placed from the break.

#7 MISS LESLIE -- Local hope was a stakes winner in her first try on the oval for Claudio Gonzalez when registering a 102 Brisnet Late Pace figure. Daughter of Paynter faces a taller task on Saturday, and others appear to be a bit more likely in the top slot in my opinion.

#8 THE GRASS IS BLUE -- Busanda S. queen removes the blinkers following a fourth-place result in the Gazelle for Chad Brown. Talented Broken Vow filly has a fine turn of foot, but she lands in a spot where the early pace will likely be modest. Irad Ortiz Jr. will guide the late runner.

#9 ADVENTURING -- Prime win player has moved forward in each career outing for Brad Cox. Bay daughter of Pioneerof the Nile comes in fresh with fine form, and will be tough late with Florent Geroux in the stirrups.

#10 BEAUTIFUL GIFT -- Top pick is bred to run all day and figures to thrive with the added ground for Bob Baffert. Homebred has never missed the board from four lifetime showings, and her running style is ideal for this affair, too. John Velazquez will have the top selection within range while in the clear throughout .

Black-Eyed Susan Wagers

• $15 win and place #10 Beautiful Gift ($30)
• $1 trifecta key 10 with 1,3,6,7,9 ($20)