Returning to Maryland for the first time since her 2025 George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) triumph, Margie's Intention snapped a year-long winless streak by capturing the $123,750 Allaire DuPont Distaff Stakes at Laurel Park May 15.
Despite being winless in four starts since that 2025 victory, the 4-year-old daughter of Honor A. P. consistently delivered respectable performances. She hit the board in every outing, highlighted by a third-place finish in last year's Alabama Stakes (G1) behind subsequent champion 3-year-old filly Nitrogen and 2025 Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Good Cheer.
Breaking under Irad Ortiz Jr., Margie's Intention settled comfortably, tracking the pace set by Low Country Magic, through moderate fractions of :24.70, :49.07, and 1:13.60.
"I let her find her stride, take a little hold of her," Ortiz said. "When it was time to let her do her thing, she did it easy."
Coming into the far turn, Margie's Intention started to make her move on the outside and wore down a stubborn Low Country Magic to win by 2 3/4 lengths. Late Nite Call was third.
Ortiz was confident throughout that he was going to catch the leader.
"She gave me a good feeling every step of the way," Ortiz said. "I was biding time. When I let her do her thing, she jumped in the bridle and did it easy."
Margie's Intention's final time for the 1 1/8-mile race on a fast track was 1:52.26. The Brad Cox trainee paid $3.20 to win.
Delta Squad Racing and Michael Dubb purchased Margie's Intention for $1.3 million at last year's Fasig-Tipton's The November Sale. This was the first win for her new owners, Delta Squad Racing, Dubb, and Madaket Stables, who kept her with Cox after her sale.
Margie's Intention was bred in Louisiana by Coteau Grove Farms. She is out of the Into Mischief mare Playful Dancer.
Video: Allaire DuPont Distaff S. (BT)
Coach Mazzula Caps Russell's Three-Win Day
Trainer Brittany Russell secured her third win of the day when Coach Mazzula went to the lead early and held on late in the $125,000 Hilltop Stakes.
The filly by Authentic , owned by Madaket Stables, achieved her first stakes success in the Hilltop. Coach Mazzula came into the race off a confidence-boosting, 2 1/4-length win in an April 18 allowance race at Laurel.
Ridden by Jevian Toledo, the 3-year-old led the field through fractions of :24.15, :48.89, and 1:12.37. She looked clear coming down the stretch, but favored Ultimate Love was putting in a strong late run under John Velazquez to miss the win by a head.
"I was praying for the line there," Russell said. "She ran just how I thought she would. She was comfortable early, and she kicked on, and it was just a matter of her holding them off late.
"When I was looking at the Form and talking to Toledo in the paddock, I said, 'I like this filly today. Maybe with what's in here and the speed, she could maybe have her way.'"
Russell, who trains local hero Taj Mahal, entered in Saturday's Preakness Stakes (G1), said the wins have certainly fueled the connections.
"It gets everybody's blood pumping," she said. "It feels good. It's good for the team. It gets everybody in the right mindset."
Coach Mazzula's final time for the 1-mile race on firm turf was 1:35.52. She paid $11.20 to win.
Video: Hilltop S. (BT)
Sunna Takes The Very One Stakes
Leverett Miller's homebred Sunna secured her first stakes victory in the $100,000 The Very One Stakes, leading from gate to wire in the 5 1/2-furlong test over the turf.
Miller is most recently known for breeding Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner and Kentucky Derby (G1) participant, So Happy.
After setting a quick pace of :22.59 and :45.26, Sunna accelerated away from the field in the stretch under Luis Saez. However, the race turned into a thriller late, as Somnium and Saturday Flirt closed rapidly under Jose Ortiz and Irad Ortiz Jr, respectively. Sunna crossed the wire 1 length in front of Saturday Flirt. Lost and Found, tracking in third most of the race, edged Somnium for the show. The final time for the race was 1:01.84.
"When the Charles Town horse (Julee's Legacy), who was going to be the real speed, was scratched, I told Luis that if you break good, which she always breaks good, just go," winning trainer Kent Sweezey said.
Saez, who was aboard the Dominus filly for the first time, said he was confident the whole way.
"She controlled the race. When she came to the top of the stretch, I had a ton of horse," Saez said.
Sunna paid $4.80 to win.
