For Immediate Release
WinStar Farm and Baron Stable’s Margie’s Intention (Honor A. P. – Playful Dancer, by Into Mischief) unleashed a relentless run through the stretch to reel in pacesetter Paris Lily and register a three-quarter-length victory in the $300,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) at Pimlico Race Course May 16, becoming one of two OBS grads to earn graded stakes wins on the weekend.
Racing exclusively against fellow Louisiana-breds at Fair Grounds, Margie’s Intention was making her debut in open company. She ran fourth in her mid-December unveiling before registering back-to-back wins and running second in a pair of stakes.
(Maryland Jockey Club photo)
“Obviously, a big win being a Grade 2 and we thought she would like the mile and an eighth and she pretty much needed all of it to get there,” trainer Brad Cox told the Pimlico publicity team. “She ran a big race. We haven’t had her that long, but she performed well on an off track this winter. I thought she moved forward today. It was a demanding race; she was under a ride turning for home and she finished the race off.”
Margie’s Intention was purchased by Corbin Blumberg, agent for $185,000 out of the 2024 OBS April sale from the consignment of Sequel Bloodstock after breezing in :10 flat.
On the undercard of the Preakness Stakes (G1) May 17, William Heiligbrodt, Corinne Heiligbrodt, Jackpot Farm and Whispering Oaks Farm’s Booth (Mitole – Sophia’s Song, by Bellamy Road) extended his win streak to four races with his third consecutive graded triumph, a front-running score in the $150,000 Maryland Sprint (G3).
Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Booth improved to 4-for-5 in his 4-year-old season. His sire, fellow OBS grad Mitole, won the 2018 Chick Lang at Pimlico and was the champion male sprinter of 2019.
Booth was purchased by the Heiligbrodts and Jackpot Farm for $225,000 out of the 2023 OBS March sale from the Wavertree Stables consignment after breezing in :10 flat.
Among the other OBS grads to earn stakes wins on the weekend were Fergus Galvin’s Play With Fire (Oscar Performance – Streaming Fire, by Street Sense), who swept up to take the lead in mid-stretch and continued to the wire en route to capturing the $125,000 Hilltop by a length at Pimlico on May 16.
Trained by Brendan Walsh, Play With Fire was purchased by Galvin for $85,000 at the 2024 OBS March sale from the consignment of Niall Brennan Stables after galloping during the under-tack show.
At Gulfstream Park May 17, Most Handsome (Neolithic – Precious Lady, by Songandaprayer) led every point of call to notch a victory in the $75,000 Roar Stakes. Owned by trainer Ronald Spatz and David Romanik, Most Handsome was offered at the 2024 OBS March Sale from the the On Track consignment but failed to meet his reserve after breezing in :9 4/5.
At Horseshoe Indianapolis May 14, Smoken Boy (Catholic Boy – Smoken Deb, by Cairo Prince) got the edge late to win by a head over Chasing Liberty in the $150,000 Caesars Handicap. Trained by Cheryl Winebaugh for KEM Stables, Smoken Boy was purchased for $15,000 out of the 2024 OBS June Sale by C.H.P.R. from the consignment of Niall Brennan Stables after breezing in :10 2/5.