Friday's Black-Eyed Susan undercard at Pimlico features a stellar
edition of the Grade 3, $300,000 Pimlico Special Stakes as well as three
sprint stakes in the lead-up to Saturday's 137th running of the
Preakness Stakes.
The Pimlico Special, formerly called the William Donald Schaefer, has
drawn 10 runners to go 1 3/16 miles on the main track at Old Hilltop.
Included in the well-matched, talented group is Mission Impazible,
Toby's Corner, Endorsement, Hymn Book, Nehro and Alternation.
Mission Impazible is seeking a return to the winner's circle following a
trio of seconds in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap, Grade 1 Donn Handicap
and Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap in his past three. The Todd
Pletcher-trained gray's last victory came in the 2011 New Orleans 'Cap,
but the Unbridled's Song five-year-old posted a sharp five-furlong move
in :59 2/5 on Belmont's training track Saturday in preparation for the
Pimlico Special.
Toby's Corner will be making just his third start since returning from a
near year-long layoff. The Graham Motion pupil captured the Grade 1
Wood Memorial in 2011 but became unsound in his left hind leg in the
lead-up to the Kentucky Derby. Withdrawn on the Tuesday of Derby week,
the Bellamy Road colt was given plenty of time to recover from his
injury, which was never pinpointed with an exact diagnosis.
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