Little Face tries to stretch win streak to seven in Magnolia

Little Face will be heading into the biggest battle of her career Friday night in an attempt to win her seventh straight race in the $100,000 Magnolia at Delta Downs. Little Face is leaving the starter-allowance ranks behind to take on the established stakes winners Little Ms Protocol, I Dazzle, and Tensas Harbor in the one-mile race, which offers a first look at some of the fillies and mares targeting the rich Louisiana Champions Day program at Fair Grounds.

The Magnolia’s field of nine also includes Blessed Immaculata, a multiple stakes-placed runner making the move to two turns, and All Woman, a stakes winner like her dam, who overall won 14 races and $515,376.

Magnolia (Race 8)

KEY CONTENDERS

Little Face (Last 3 Beyers: 76-67-71)

* She is moving back into the Louisiana-bred ranks for the first time since Feb. 1, when she won the $65,000 Premiere Night Ladies Starter at Delta. The one-mile race marked the start of her current streak, which has weaved through the starter-allowance ranks at Indiana Grand and Keeneland.

* Little Face, who in her last start delivered as the 4-5 favorite in a $7,500 starter allowance at Keeneland, is returning to a Delta surface over which she is 3 for 3.

* She has reason to move forward Friday, as the Magnolia will be her second out since July 30.

* Little Face goes for red-hot connections in Maggi Moss, trainer Tom Amoss, and jockey Gerard Melancon.

Little Ms Protocol (Last 3 Beyers: 74-80-82)

* She is the most accomplished member of the field as a six-time stakes winner who has earned $668,290.

* Little Ms Protocol is back racing with fillies and mares after a fifth-place finish against males July 11 in an Evangeline Downs allowance in her most recent start.

* The race she exits has become a key one. The runner-up, Fantastical, returned in his next start to take a $5,000 starter allowance at Evangeline with a Beyer Speed Figure of 82, and the fourth-place finisher, multiple stakes winner Top Cat Boogie, won a $30,000 optional claimer at Evangeline with an 83 Beyer.

* Diego Saenz, who had been sidelined with an injury, will be reuniting with regular mount Little Ms Protocol.

* She will add blinkers for Coteau Grove Farms and trainer Patrick Devereux Jr.

I Dazzle (Last 3 Beyers: 88-70-74)

* She is seeking her third straight win, following scores in the $75,000 Louisiana Cup Distaff at Louisiana Downs on Aug. 2 and a $125,000 optional claimer at Arlington on Sept. 11.

* I Dazzle is a three-time stakes winner and half-sister to Make Music For Me, a stakes winner and earner of $564,650.