Little Ms Protocol turns it on late in Magnolia

Little Ms Protocol won the seventh stakes race of her career on Friday night, when she rallied for a 3 1/4-length win over Blessed Immaculata in the $100,000 Magnolia at Delta Downs. The one-mile race was for fillies and mares bred in Louisiana, and it is expected to produce starters for next month’s Louisiana Champions Day program at Fair Grounds.

Little Ms Protocol ($13.80) settled off the pace in the Magnolia, as Natalia Soleil took the field through fractions of 23.15 seconds for the opening quarter, 47.23 for the half-mile and 1:12.41 for six furlongs, prompted along by Blessed Immaculata. Little Ms Protocol put in a strong bid on the final turn, roared to the lead in the stretch, and went on to cover the distance on a fast track in 1:39.74.

Diego Saenz rode the winner for Coteau Grove Farms and trainer Patrick Devereux, Jr.

Little Ms Protocol earned $60,000 for the win, her ninth from 29 starts. She has now banked $728,290. Little Ms Protocol is a 5-year-old by El Corredor and she was bred by Coteau Grove