Delta Downs hosted the first stakes race of its 2022-2023 Thoroughbred season on Friday night and the fans in attendance were treated to a stellar performance by Free Like a Girl, who kept her local record perfect at four-for-four with a victory in the $100,000 Magnolia Stakes for Louisiana-bred fillies and mares.
The 3-year-old El Deal filly was ridden to victory by Pedro Cotto Jr.
Coming into the race off two consecutive runner-up efforts Grade 3 stakes company, Free Like a Girl stalked the early pace from fifth in the seven-furlong Magnolia as Winning Romance went the opening quarter mile in :23.37. At the half-mile point Noneya took a short lead while clocking :47.68, but the advantage was short lived as Free Like a Girl, who had advanced to third, swept to the front while three wide.
In the homestretch Cotto gave the Chasey Pomier trainee the gentlest of reminders as she held Winning Romance at bay to win the Magnolia by 1 1/2 lengths. Snowball finished third, another six lengths behind the top pair.
Time was 1:25.92 on a track rated as fast.
Free Like a Girl, who is owned by Gerald Bruno Jr., Carl Deville, Chasey Deville Pomier, and Jerry Caroom, has on nine-of-18 career starts overall and she earned $60,000 for her Magnolia score on Friday. Her total bankroll now stands at $662,128.
Bred in Louisiana by Kim Renee Stover and Lisa Osborne, Free Like a Girl is out of the Flashy Bull mare Flashy Prize.
Sent to the gate as the overwhelming favorite of the fans at odds of 1-9, Free Like a Girl paid $2. She came into the Magnolia off a runner-up finishes in the Remington Park Oaks (G3) Sept. 25 and Charles Town Oaks (G3) Aug. 26.
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