Louisiana-bred filly Braken Poppa, owned by Bradley Kent and Ken Reimer and trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, aims to extend her four-race winning streak in the Grade 2, $300,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Laurel Park. This 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-old fillies marks her first challenge against open company after dominating state-bred competition at Fair Grounds. With jockey José Ortiz aboard, Braken Poppa has shown versatility and stamina, having won her recent two-turn races impressively, and her connections are optimistic about her chances in this prestigious event that serves as a lead-up to the Preakness Stakes.

The Black-Eyed Susan Stakes day features a rich 14-race card with six stakes races totaling $1.05 million in purses, including graded events like the Pimlico Special (G3) and Miss Preakness (G3). Other notable contenders include Holly’s Holiday, trained by Ken McPeek, who is also seeking a first Black-Eyed Susan win, and My Miss Mo, a consistent graded stakes performer from Gulfstream Park. The race has a storied history dating back to 1919, with many winners going on to become champion 3-year-old fillies and Hall of Famers, underscoring the significance of this key event in the fillies’ racing calendar.