Saturday, May 18, 2002
Chamrousse wins Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
By DAVID GINSBURG
AP Sports Writer
![[img]](http://enquirer.com/editions/2002/05/18/susan_150x200.jpg)
Chamrousse, center, with jockey Jerry D. Bailey up, wins the $200,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes race at Pimlico race track in Baltimore, Md. Friday.
(AP photo)
| ZOOM | |
BALTIMORE — Chamrousse fulfilled her role as the heavy favorite, pulling away from Shop Till You Drop in the stretch Friday to win the $200,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes.
Chamrousse, who went off as the 3-5 choice at Pimlico, separated herself from Shop Till You Drop at the eighth pole and charged home along the rail to win the Grade 2 race for 3-year-old fillies by 2 1/4 lengths.
“She ran a super race. I was proud of her today,” trainer Niall O'Callaghan said.
It was the third career win in six starts for Chamrousse, who was coming off three straight third-place finishes. The filly covered 1 1-8 miles in 1:51.61.
Autumn Creek finished third, two lengths behind the runner-up. Charitabledonation took fourth, followed by Aly Quatorze and Tamayo.
Chamrousse was held out of the Kentucky Oaks two weeks ago, specifically to go in the Black-Eyed Susan. The move proved prudent, as Chamrousse had more left at the end than the rest of the field.
“I picked this race because she won her first two starts. The last two races she ran well, but not as well as we expected,” O'Callaghan said. “I expected her to improve in her fourth start, and when she didn't I knew she would run well today.”
Chamrousse held down second place for much of the race before jockey Jerry Bailey made his move. After shaking off the persistent Shop Till You Drop, Bailey surged to a half-length lead in the stretch and cruised to the wire.
“I thought I'd be three or four horses off the lead, but watching her races, I saw how game she was. I wasn't going to take anything away from her running style,” Bailey said. “I've never ridden her before, but I ride them better that way.”
Chamrousse paid $3.20, $2.80 and $2.10. Shop Till You Drop returned $9 and $3. Autumn Creek was $2.80 to show.
Shop Till You Drop, coming off consecutive wins, ran gamely but couldn't finish.
“My filly got her head in front,” jockey Harry Vega said, “But I new we didn't put the favorite away yet.”
Aly Quatorze, the daughter of 1996 Preakness winner Louis Quatorze, started slowly before moving within range of the leaders halfway through the race. But the filly faded badly in the stretch.
Nick Zito, who also trained Louis Quatorze, watched his horse finish out of the money for the fourth time in five races since winning two straight at Gulfstream this winter.
“I just don't know what happened,” Zito said.
Earlier Friday, Summer Colony prevailed in a stretch duel with Dancethruthedawn to win the Grade 3 Pimlico Breeders' Cup Distaff. It was the sixth win in nine career races for the filly, who came from the 12th post to beat the 6-5 favorite by a nose.
Sports Stories
Cards 3, Reds 1
Reds box, runs
Final series tickets on sale
Inside pitch beans Rijo right in wallet
Kile breaks through for Cards
Dodger pioneer dies
Fan injured when bat flies into stands
Selig warns of foldings
Surgery to sideline O's Segui 10-12 weeks
Astros 7, Pirates 4
Giambi hits walk-off grand slam
Mets turn triple play against Padres
NL roundup
AL roundup
Fenwick senior unbeaten but has unfinished business
Coach suspended over allegations he hit sleeping students
Preps schedule
Tristate preps results
![[img]](http://enquirer.com/editions/2002/05/18/susan_zoom.jpg)
Chamrousse wins Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
