A patient ride from Irad Ortiz Jr. and a strong late surge carried Margie’s Intention back to the winner’s enclosure on Saturday as the Brad Cox-trained filly captured the $125,000 Allaire du Pont Distaff presented by Kaiser Permanente at Laurel Park.
The 4-year-old, who had not won since her memorable Black-Eyed Susan Stakes success at Pimlico last spring, produced a polished stretch run to reel in frontrunner Low Country Magic inside the final furlong and score by 2¾ lengths in the 1 1/8-mile feature for fillies and mares.
Laurel Park Allaire du Pont Distaff results.
Margie’s Intention, ridden confidently by Ortiz for owners Delta Squad Racing, Michael Dubb and Madaket Stables, settled comfortably in fourth through the early stages before advancing smoothly around the far turn. Once angled into the clear, the daughter of Honor A.P. lengthened stride impressively and took command approaching the eighth pole before drawing away late.
She stopped the clock in 1:52.26 over a fast main track and returned $3.20 to win.
Low Country Magic had set the pace from the rail, carving out fractions of 24.70 seconds, 49.07 and 1:13.60 while closely tracked by outsider Late Nite Call and Queen Azteca. Margie’s Intention travelled quietly along the inside during the opening stages, with Complexity Jane trailing the compact field.
Turning for home, Low Country Magic still held the advantage, but Ortiz had yet to fully ask his mount. Once set down for her run, Margie’s Intention quickly gathered momentum on the outside and swept past decisively.
Low Country Magic held second ahead of Late Nite Call, while Queen Azteca and Complexity Jane completed the order of finish. Too Many Kisses, Waveless and Ourdaydreaminggirl were withdrawn before the race.
The victory marked Margie’s Intention’s fourth career success from 11 starts and suggested the mare may yet return to graded stakes company with renewed confidence. Since winning the Black-Eyed Susan last year, she had posted respectable placed efforts in the Delaware Oaks (G3), Alabama Stakes (G1) and Beldame Stakes (G2) without adding another victory.
Trainer Brad Cox, speaking by phone after the race, indicated the performance was intended as a stepping stone toward bigger targets later in the season.
“We thought this would be a good race, second off the layoff. We’re hoping we can get her back to the graded-stakes level to run,” Cox said. “This was just a stepping stone toward that if it went the way we hoped.”
Cox admitted the steady pace briefly raised concerns before the field entered the stretch.
“With the pace being as slow as it was, going up the backside I wasn’t sure how it would play out,” he said. “But she showed she liked the mile and an eighth. I thought the long stretch would be her friend, and it was.”
The trainer also praised the mare’s consistency throughout her career.
“She’s very honest, always bringing her ‘A’ game. We’re hoping we can break through this year with another graded stakes at some point,” he added.
Margie’s Intention was sold for $1.3 million at auction last autumn, with the new ownership group opting to keep her in training for another campaign. Saturday’s performance justified that decision in emphatic fashion.
Ortiz, who timed the winning move to perfection, said he was content to allow the filly to settle naturally rather than force her into position early.
“My filly doesn’t really have too much speed, so I was riding my race, letting her be comfortable,” Ortiz said. “Then at the three-eighths pole it was time to let her do her thing, and she did it easy.”
The Allaire du Pont Distaff, now in its 33rd running, honours the late horsewoman and sportswoman whose famed gelding Kelso won five consecutive Horse of the Year titles from 1960 through 1964 — an achievement that still stands unmatched in American racing history.
For Laurel Park racegoers, the performance provided one of the standout moments on a high-quality Black-Eyed Susan Day programme and reaffirmed Margie’s Intention as a mare capable of competing at the top level once again.
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