Regardless of an extended await the race to happen, the $300,000 George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) gave a way of prompt gratification to WinStar Farm as Margie’s Intention stormed house a winner Could 16 within the first race she wore the white silks with the inexperienced and black star.
The Black-Eyed Susan was the primary begin in open firm for the daughter of Honor A. P.   bred in Louisiana by Coteau Grove Farms after making her first 5 begins at Truthful Grounds Race Course & Slots in opposition to state-breds. In her final two efforts, she had positioned second in stakes firm to Blue Hearth , who exited to complete second within the Eight Belles Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs Could 2.Margie’s Intention, dk b/br, 3/f
Honor A. P. — Playful Dancer, by Into Mischief
Proprietor: WinStar Farm LLC & Baron Steady
Breeder: Coteau Grove Farms, LLC (LA)
Coach: Brad H. Cox
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Info offered by Equibase at time of entry.
Pedigree Notes
Honor A. P. stands at Lane’s Finish for $10,000 (2025).
Sale Historical past
OBSAPR2024 • $185,000 • Consignor: Sequel Bloodstock • Purchaser: Corbin Blumberg, agent.
FTKOCT2023 • $57,000 • Consignor: Lane’s Finish, for Coteau Grove Farms • Purchaser: Becky Thomas, agent.
Her performances had caught the attention of Thoro-Graph’s Jerry Brown, who gave WinStar a name. Because it turned out, they’d their eyes set on the filly since she was offered to Baron Stables for $185,000 on the 2024 Ocala Breeders’ Gross sales Spring Sale of 2-Yr-Olds in Coaching.
“We favored her lots. Preferred her bodily attributes, her dimension and scope,” stated WinStar’s president, CEO, and racing supervisor Elliott Walden. “We knew the filly and felt like (partnering with Baron Stables) was the proper factor to do.”
Tom Mueller, a managing companion of Baron Stables, stated there was some hesitation at first whether or not they wished to promote any piece of the filly, however in the end the prospect to companion with a corporation of WinStar’s fame gained out.Join BloodHorse Every day
“For those who can companion with them, you may be taught from them,” Mueller stated. “For essentially the most half, it is hobbies for us (Baron Stables), however WinStar is an expert, first-class operation. That positively helped with the choice.”
Photograph: Skip DicksteinMargie’s Intention enters the winner’s circle after profitable the George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
As soon as the pair partnered, one other resolution was made to switch the filly from Brendan Walsh to coach Brad Cox. Cox favored what he noticed from the filly within the mornings and felt the added distance of 1 1/8 miles would swimsuit her. He was confirmed appropriate.
Nonetheless, they wanted to attend longer than anticipated to see whether or not the selection to stretch in distance was appropriate. A extreme thunderstorm closed in on Baltimore because the prior race crossed the end line. The 9 3-year-old fillies remained again on the barn whereas patrons of Pimlico Race Course had been instructed to shelter contained in the constructing.
Not one of the connections appeared too involved with the delay, crediting the younger filly’s thoughts.
“All of them must undergo it, so I really feel like its a fair enjoying discipline,” Cox stated. “She’s a laid-back filly, does every thing you ask of her.”
The race went off an hour and 14 minutes after scheduled put up time, and a rainbow greeted the fillies to the observe as soon as permitted to stroll from the barns to the paddock.
As soon as the beginning gate was lastly crammed, Margie’s Intention broke inward and brushed with Princess Aliyah . Flavien Prat shortly adjusted and acquired himself a path to the rail and saved floor into the primary flip.
Paris Lily , skilled by Margie’s Intentions former coach Walsh, set a tempo faster than Cox anticipated whereas pressed by Liam within the Mud . After fractions of :22.73, :46.38, and 1:11.57, Prat steadily inched nearer down the backstretch and started to name on his filly as they entered the far flip.
“Brad advised me that she stored coming on a regular basis and that she was a grinder,” Prat stated. “I stored driving her and he or she was resilient.”
It seemed like Joel Rosario and Paris Lily may be house free as they turned for house, however Margie’s Intention stored grinding away earlier than lastly pulling forward by three-quarters of a size as they approached the wire. She accomplished the 1 1/8 miles on a sloppy observe in 1:52.05.
Paris Lily held second and Kinzie Queen ran on for third.
Regardless of dealing with open firm for the primary time, Margie’s Intention was wager all the way down to 5-2 favoritism and paid $7.00 to win.
Photograph: Skip DicksteinConnections have fun Margie’s Intention’s victory within the George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
“Making that soar from all Louisiana competitors to the open competitors is a giant, huge deal,” Mueller stated. “(WinStar) favored what they noticed and we favored her all alongside, every thing got here collectively.”
Cox picked up his second victory within the Black-Eyed Susan and earned himself one more victory on this crop of fillies. Two weeks prior, he gained the Kentucky Oaks (G1) with the undefeated Good Cheer and has undefeated 2024 champion 2-year-old filly Immersive on the comeback path for the summer time.
“It is good to have multiples in any division as a result of it is a powerful sport as it’s,” Cox stated. “We have got group.”
The remainder of the connections all celebrated their first Black-Eyed Susan win. Mueller, who is not any stranger to success as a companion in Starlight Racing since 2012, referred to as the victory the “greatest win ever” for the Baron Stables banner.
The victory carried Margie’s Intention to profession earnings of $294,880 with a 3-2-0 document from six begins. It additionally was monumental for her sire, Honor A. P., who earned his first graded stakes win at stud. The weekend may get even higher because the Lane’s Finish stallion is the sire of Coronary heart of Honor , who’s entered within the Could 17 Preakness Stakes (G1).
Margie’s Intention is out of the unraced Into Mischief  mare Playful Dancer, who was bred by WinStar.
Video: George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan S. (G2)
