Cameras roll for Actress at Pimlico
BALTIMORE — Sloshing in the mud with visions of an upset, Nik Juarez guided long-shot Actress through a memorable maiden-breaking voyage Friday in the Black-Eyed Susan.
After a sudden and intense rainstorm turned the track at Pimlico Race Course into a sloppy mess, Actress outlasted Lights of Medina by a neck in the Grade II race for 3-year-old fillies.
It was the third career race for Actress following a pair of second-place finishes. Trained by Jason Servis, the filly paid $27.60, $10.60 and $7.80.
After previously running six and seven furlongs, Actress found her groove at 1 1/8 miles. She was sixth at the three-quarter pole before closing with a flourish.
“They were running fast up front and I was sitting behind,” Juarez said. “She ate the dirt up. When she made her move, she really started running and carried it on.”
Lights of Medina, trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Feargal Lynch, beat third-place finisher Corporate Queen by two lengths.
Like Actress, Lights of Medina made up plenty of distance in the latter stage of the race. But she didn’t have enough of a push to overtake the winner.
“She just missed a head bob,” Pletcher said. “It was a great effort by her.”
Pletcher also trains Moana, who finished fifth. He can only hope for better results today, when he saddles Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming in the Preakness.
Earlier Friday, heavily favored Shaman Ghost stormed past stablemate Dolphus in the final eighth of a mile to win the Grade III Pimlico Special by a neck.
Ridden masterfully by Javier Castellano, Shaman Ghost won for the eighth time in 16 lifetime races. He paid $2.80, $2.20 and $2.10.
“I could have gone to the lead any time,” Castellano said, “but I didn’t want to.”
Conquest Windycity finished third.