Scully: Playing Pick 3 on 2026 Black-Eyed Susan program

Despite the lack of any graded stakes winners, Friday’s Black-Eyed Susan (G2) at Laurel Park offers intrigue for horseplayers, with a competitive field of 10 three-year-olds set for the 1 1/8-mile event.

I’m against the two favorites on the morning line, Jumping the Gun and My Miss Mo. The former reeled off three consecutive sprint wins to open her career and faltered in her next three outings at a mile or longer. I wasn’t keen on her comeback, as Jumping the Gun weakened significantly in the stretch while trying Laurel for the first time in the recent 1 1/16-mile Weber City Miss S., and will try to beat her at projected short odds.

The Kentucky Oaks prep races in Florida came up weaker than most circuits in my estimation, and some filly had to finish second to Prom Queen in the 1 1/16-mile Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), with My Miss Mo giving way readily but holding her spot in second after establishing soft fractions on a clear lead. She’s better at one turn, winning two consecutive sprints by nearly 20 combined lengths before recording a neck second in the Davona Dale (G2) at a one-turn mile, and the outside draw did her no favors Friday.

I will play the following Pick 3 into the Black-Eyed Susan (race 13), with my thoughts on each leg below.

• $5 Pick 3 (races 11-13): 3,5 with 2,3 with 3,8 ($40)

Race 11 – The Very One

#3 Lost and Found (3-1) rates the edge in her turf return for new trainer Brittany Russell. She enters off a pair of encouraging allowance wins at Turfway Park, registering strong numbers for both performances and appearing much-improved as a four-year-old, and her turf form was solid last fall, placing in a pair of allowances at Keeneland and Churchill Downs after breaking her maiden. Lost and Found projects to be prominent from the start, and #5 Saturday Flirt (6-5) will be running late. She’s failed to break alertly in all six starts, including her comeback in the Giant’s Causeway (G2) where she never fired after a rough off-the-pace trip, but Saturday Flirt defeated subsequent graded stakes winners capturing her two previous outings. I won’t leave out the rebound candidate.

Race 12 – Pimlico Special (G3)

#3 San Siro (6-1) opened 2026 with a sharp win at Oaklawn Park and was too far back during the early stages of the Ben Ali (G3) last time before rallying well for third. He can race closer to the pace in this spot, and I like the Brisnet Speed and Late Pace numbers San Siro has registered in recent starts, but do acknowledge the possible favorable pace scenario for #2 Navajo Warrior (5-2), who will look to save plenty for the latter stages on the front end.

Race 13 – Black-Eyed Susan (G2)

Two-deep in the Black-Eyed Susan, with #8 Majestic Lucia (12-1) rating top billing in her stakes debut. I liked her maiden win the second time out at Gulfstream in late February, as Majestic Lucia displayed improved speed dominating a seven-furlong maiden optional event by 8 1/4 lengths, and she kept progressing while stretching to two turns in a salty entry-level allowance at Tampa Bay Downs in early April. The dark bay miss took kickback while saving ground from just off the pace and responded courageously when called upon, wearing down a stubborn rival to win by a neck. The runner-up and third-place finisher came back to easily win their next start over allowance rivals, and Majestic Lucia appears to be training forwardly during the interim for Victor Barboza Jr., who is winning at a 21% clip with shippers from his last 160 starts. Her last two starts came back fast for this level, with her Brisnet numbers suggesting another forward move, and Junior Alvarado (up for her maiden win) retakes the mount.

#3 Holly’s Holiday (6-1) also looks like a serious contender, turning her form around commendably this year for Kenny McPeek. The stalker figures to be in position to challenge turning for home with Flavien Prat.