After bypassing the GI Kentucky Oaks, Juddmonte homebred Bonny South (Munnings) is the clear-cut filly to beat in Saturday's GII George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan S. at Pimlico.
The chestnut broke through with a last-to-first upset in the GII Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks Mar. 21, then was a well-beaten fourth in the GI Central Bank Ashland S. at Keeneland July 11.
She bounced back with a good second behind the GI Preakness S.-bound Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) in the GI Alabama S. at Saratoga last time Aug. 15.
“The biggest thing with her not running in the Kentucky Oaks was coming back in 20 days, the quality of the race,” said trainer Brad Cox, who saddled Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) to a 15-1 upset in the Kentucky Oaks. “It was a very, very good race. Ultimately, they made the decision to not run. The timing wasn't quite there.”
Florent Geroux has the mount aboard the 7-5 morning-line favorite.
Cox continued, “Since the Alabama, she's done really, really well. She's maturing. She's still somewhat lightly raced, only run six times in her life. I think we have yet to see the best of her. Hopefully, she'll take a step forward.”
Perfect Alibi (Sky Mesa), winner of the GI Spinaway S. and a respectable fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, looks for her first win at three. She adds blinkers following a third-place finish in Laurel's Weber City Miss S. Sept. 7.
Project Whiskey (Tapizar), a 38-1 winner of the GIII Delaware Oaks and runner-up behind Hopeful Growth (Tapiture) in the GIII Monmouth Oaks Aug. 1, was a disappointing ninth in the Weber City last time. Hopeful Growth, meanwhile, returned with a sixth-place finish in the Kentucky Oaks.
Mizzen Beau (Mizzen Mast) returns to dirt following a front-running upset in Woodbine's Bison City S. Sept. 12. She was a well-beaten second behind Shedaresthedevil in an optional claimer at Churchill back in June in her most recent attempt on dirt.
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