Margie's Intention lands open company win in Black-Eyed Susan

Margie's Intention entered Friday's $300,000 Black-Eyed Susan (G2) at Pimlico with a 2-for-5 record and no experience racing outside the Louisiana-bred ranks. But the bettors weren't fooled.

Perhaps intrigued in part by the fact WinStar Farm bought into the three-year-old filly and transferred her to trainer Brad Cox after her most recent start on March 22, the public sent Margie's Intention off as the 5-2 favorite in a seemingly wide-open edition of the 1 1/8-mile Black-Eyed Susan. The race was delayed more than an hour due to inclement weather and contested over a sloppy track.

Margie's Intention justified the faith, wearing down rubber-legged pacesetter Paris Lily in deep stretch to win by three parts of a length under Flavien Prat. She returned $7 after completing the course in 1:52.05.

Paris Lily, who set an uncontested but steady pace of :22.73, :46.38, and 1:11.57, finished 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Kinzie Queen, who was followed by Reply, Amarth, Liam in the Dust, Princess Aliyah, Moon Cache, and Runnin N Gunnin.

Before WinStar bought into the filly, Margie's Intention was campaigned exclusively by Baron Stable and was trained by Brendan Walsh, with all five of her previous outings occurring at Fair Grounds. She debuted in mid-December, finishing fourth in a six-furlong maiden, but jumped up to graduate next out by 11 3/4 lengths in the slop going one mile.

After a tighter half-length win in a first-level allowance, Margie's Intention entered the stakes ranks. In a three-week span in March, she finished second to Blue Fire in both the Flashy Prize S. and Crescent City Oaks. Blue Fire subsequently finished second in the Eight Belles (G2) at Churchill Downs two weeks ago.

"We haven’t had her that long, but she performed well on an off track this winter," Cox said. "I thought she moved forward today."

Margie's Intention is from the first crop of Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Honor A. P. and out of the Into Mischief mare Playful Dancer. She was bred by Cateau Grove Farms.