Jet Black works her Magic in Delta Downs Princess

Jet Black Magic got a bit of revenge over La Appassionata, and in a big way, in Saturday's $400,000 Delta Downs Princess (G3). Third by eight lengths to that rival in last month's $100,000 My Trusty Cat, Jet Black Magic made a sweeping move to the lead in the stretch and scorched that 1-5 favorite by a margin of 4 1/4 lengths in the one-mile test.

Ridden by Robert Morales, Jet Black Magic covered the distance in 1:42.14 on a muddy track. She paid $21.40 to win as the 9-1 third choice in a field of seven two-year-old fillies, and earned 10 qualifying points for 2016 Kentucky Oaks (G1) eligibility.

La Appassionata, who had captured her first two starts by a combined margin of 11 1/2 lengths, seven of which came in the My Trusty Cat, made an early, three-wide move approaching the far turn. Grabbing the lead but unable to shake off Above Fashion immediately, she had little left to repel the rush of Jet Black Magic.

La Appassionata eventually pulled away from Above Fashion to finish 7 1/4 lengths clear in second. The rest of the field was similarly strung out, and given the overwhelming support given the favorite it's unlikely there will be other Oaks contenders to emerge out of this race.

Jet Black Magic, a daughter of Hold Me Back, is owned by Carl Moore and trained by Bret Calhoun, who had won with eight of his first 19 starters at the Delta Downs meet -- a noteworthy 42 percent clip.

A winner at first asking going six furlongs at Indiana Grand and second in a turf allowance at Churchill Downs prior to the My Trusty Cat, the Louisiana-bred Jet Black Magic figures to continue on the road to the Oaks by taking in Fair Grounds' series of preps.

(Coady Photography)