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Bonus program announced for Black-Eyed Susan Stakes

Tue 7th, September 2010

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Following on the heels of the establishment of 'Preakness 5.5', MI Developments (MID) announced Tuesday the creation of a similar program for the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. The 1 1/8 mile race for three-year-old fillies is the sister event to the Preakness Stakes.

Called 'Black-Eyed Susan 2.2', the bonus program could award $2 million to the winning owner of the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes and $200,000 to the victorious trainer. The winning filly must qualify by capturing a series of preliminary stakes.

"My hope is that 2011 will be remembered in the sports world as the founding year of a long, successful and profitable tradition of the Preakness 5.5 and the Black-Eyed Susan 2.2," said Dennis Mills, Vice Chairman and CEO of MI Developments Inc. "The Preakness weekend is an important generator of revenue for the Maryland Jockey Club and this program, combined with the Preakness 5.5, should improve racing results across our entire racing portfolio."

There will be an AmTote Jockey Bonus worth $50,000 to the winning jockey of the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes who also rode the winner of one of the qualifying races and competed in at least one other qualifying race.

"We are delighted to expand our support of the Preakness 5.5 weekend to offer a similar prize for the Black-Eyed Susan 2.2," said Steve Keech, President of AmTote International Inc.

The tracks, all owned by MID, involved in the program are Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields and Portland Meadows.

At Gulfstream Park, a filly must win the Forward Gal Stakes on Saturday, January 29, 2011 plus win the Davona Dale on Saturday, February 26 and then win the Gulfstream Park Oaks on Saturday, April 2.

For Santa Anita Park runners, a horse must win the Las Virgenes on Saturday, February 5 plus win the Santa Anita Oaks on Saturday, March 5 and also win the Gulfstream Park Oaks.

The winner of Golden Gate Fields' California Oaks on New Year's Day can qualify for the bonus by going on to win the Santa Anita Oaks and Gulfstream Park Oaks.

Portland Meadows in Oregon will conduct the Portland Meadows Oaks on Saturday, January 29. The winner of that race will also qualify for the Black-Eyed Susan 2.2 if it goes on to win the Santa Anita Oaks and Gulfstream Park Oaks.

"The Portland Meadows Oaks will instantly become a significant event in the north-west racing scene as part of the Black Eyed Susan 2.2 bonus program," noted William Alempijevic, General Manager of Portland Meadows.

In addition, a consolation prize will also be offered sponsored by XpressBet, which has one for the Preakness Stakes called XpressBet .55. If the winner of the 2011 Black-Eyed Susan is not eligible for the $2.2 million bonus, the winning owner would get $200,000 and the winning trainer $20,000.

"Everyone wins," stated Ron Luniewski, President of XpressBet Inc. "The breadth of the eligibility of the consolation prize attracts the horsemen and trainers and this should result in larger fields which appeals to both our customers and race fans."

The Black-Eyed Susan Stakes is customarily run the day prior to the Preakness Stakes, the middle jewel in racing's Triple Crown. The 87th Black-Eyed Susan Stakes will be run on Friday, May 20, 2011.