The $300,000 Black-Eyed Susan (G2) for three-year-old fillies tops six stakes at Pimlico Friday and serves as the anchor for an All-Stakes Pick 4 sequence that begins in Race 10.

My best bet comes in the opener, the $150,000 Miss Preakness (G3) for three-year-old filly sprinters, and I will recommend the following Pick 4 play.

$1 Pick 4 ticket (races 10-13)

• 9 with All with 1,3 with 6,7 ($48)

Race 10 – Miss Preakness (G3)

Throw out the synthetic start two back for #9 Long Neck Paula (6-1); her last two dirt efforts loom large here given that she was facing male rivals, defeating a solid group in the six-furlong Bowman Mill S. and finishing a respectable second to Normandy Coast in the recent Palisades S. over a sloppy track at Keeneland. That rival comes back for Saturday’s Chick Lang S., while Long Neck Paula receives class relief in the Miss Preakness. A six-furlong specialist, Long Neck Paula takes her track with her, recording all three wins at different venues, and she’s trained by Wesley Ward, who has won six of 14 starts since May 1 (as of May 15), including three stakes at three different tracks. I’ll look for a strong showing from Long Neck Paula.

Race 11 – The Very One

I’ll buy the race and hope for some mayhem in the five-furlong turf affair, which has 12 in the main body of the field (two main-track only runners). The cost of the Pick 4 ticket will be reduced with any scratches.

Race 12 – Pimlico Special (G3)

Defending champion Pyrenees was an early scratch, and I’ll give the edge to #3 Encino (6-1) following a good second to Mercante in the Kentucky Cup Classic (G3). The four-year-old colt appears to be rounding toward a top effort for Brad Cox. I’ll also include the other Cox trainee, #8 Star of Wonder (7-2), who brings encouraging numbers to his stakes debut.

Race 13 – Black-Eyed Susan (G2)

I will use a pair of fillies.

#7 Reply (8-1) didn’t break sharply from the inside last time, but she showed promise rallying to be a close second in her stakes debut. I think the Curlin filly will have more to offer for Brittany Russell in the Black-Eyed Susan. The outside draw appears favorable, and Reply is eligible to break better with Irad Ortiz Jr. picking up the mount.

#6 Paris Lily (8-1) didn’t beat the strongest group in Keeneland’s slop last out, but the daughter of City of Light finally put things all together for Brendan Walsh, registering an encouraging 87 Brisnet Speed rating for the frontrunning decision. Paris Lily is eligible to keep progressing with a good effort on the front end.

Good luck!

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