Margie's Intention hopes to repeat Maryland success

LAUREL, Md. – The last time Margie’s Intention shipped to Maryland, she left a graded stakes winner. Trainer Brad Cox noted that Laurel Park could provide different challenges than Pimlico, but he remains hopeful for more success when the 4-year-old filly returns in the $125,000 Allaire duPont Distaff Stakes on Friday.

“She was able to ship over there last year and win, or the trip over to Pimlico anyhow,” Cox said. “We targeted this race after the first run there back at the Fair Grounds in late March. She’s training well leading up to this.”

The day before the Preakness last year, Margie’s Intention had her moment in the spotlight at Pimlico when she closed from fifth on a sloppy track to win the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan. It was the Louisiana-bred’s first race for Cox and first race in open company.

The filly might be winless in four starts since her stakes triumph last May, but she has held her own in some profoundly tough fields. After finishing second in the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks, she wrapped up her 3-year-old campaign in New York, finishing third in both the Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga and Grade 2 Beldame at Aqueduct.

“She’s very honest and brings her race every time,” Cox said.

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In March, Cox brought Margie’s Intention back at a mile and 70 yards in the $100,000 Shantel Lanerie Memorial at Fair Grounds, where she finished behind fellow Louisiana-bred Blue Fire for the third time in her career. Cox said he is eager to stretch Margie’s Intention back out to 1 1/8 miles on Friday.

While Cox tries to find the right spot, trainer Rodolphe Brisset will continue toying with blinkers on for Queen Azteca. Adding the equipment has done wonders for the filly in her last two starts, but Brisset plans to use a shorter cup at Laurel.

Queen Azteca came to the United States from Sweden last summer before entering Brisset’s barn. With blinkers on for the first time in March, she improved to be runner-up in the second division of the $100,000 Sandy Bottom at Colonial Downs.

The following month, she earned her first North American victory when she improved to win a 1 1/16-mile allowance at Keeneland with an 86 Beyer Speed Figure. With Irad Ortiz Jr. on Margie’s Intention in the duPont, Flavien Prat will take the mount on Queen Azteca.

“I asked Irad last time if she was traveling almost too good for him,” Brisset said. “He said she was not keen or rank, but she was right there, maybe a little too much right there. So what we’re going to do is adapt and put a little less blinker. We’re not going to close her up as much at a mile and an eighth.“

Four runners in the field of eight fillies and mares are based at Laurel, but none have a stronger home record than Complexity Jane, who has five wins in seven starts there. She will try to bounce back for Brittany Russell after back-to-back stakes defeats.

Since a strong workout on April 26, Late Nite Call has looked better than trainer Niall Saville can ever remember seeing her. The trainer said the duPont is “probably the last of her real best shots this year” to win a stakes.

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