May 25, 2025
TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon
Atop My Throne
Marksman Queen tracked down her first career stakes win in style, wiring the $250,000 Keertana in 2:26.74 to set a new Churchill Downs turf course record for 1 ½-mile contests.
The remarkable Saturday afternoon showing began with a powerful burst to the front of the eight-horse pack and ended with a strong-willed half-length tally at 3-1.
Competing for trainer Graham Motion, Marksman Queen landed her most memorable moment in her fifth attempt at the stakes tier and first since a 10th in January’s La Prevoyante (G3T).
The 5-year-old mare’s fourth win across 16 lifetime starts (4-3-2) paid $8.40.
43-to-Win
Santa Barbarian showed no remorse in Saturday afternoon’s $125,000 Snow Chief, icing the competition with a dynamic half-length tally as the longest shot on the board (43-1).
Making his stakes debut after four mediocre lower-level efforts – a sixth, two fifths, and a first – Santa Barbarian looked like a different horse, outdueling 2-1 second choice Cali Cat for the hard-nosed triumph.
The welcomed sight for rider Kazushi Kimura, trainer Ryan Hanson, and clairvoyant bettors pushed Santa Barbarian’s career earnings total above $113,000… not bad for a horse with a $19,000 price tag.
The stunning score at Santa Anita paid a whopping $89.20.
Island Time
After a pair of uncharacteristic outings in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis (fourth) and Transylvania (eighth), Clock Tower found his rhythm in Saturday’s $150,000 Paradise Creek.
Competing at Aqueduct for the first time, the 3-year-old gelding wasted no time asserting himself as the field of nine’s top dog.
A deliberate launch from the starting gate situated Clock Tower nicely atop the pack, where he held firm with minimal pushback through the finish line.
The smooth 1 ½-length decision marked the Wesley Ward charge’s first visit to the winner’s circle since the Cecil B. DeMille (G3T) on Dec. 1, 2024.
At 7-2, Clock Tower paid $9.30.
Write the Sequel
A surprise ending to Saturday’s $104,000 Cliffhanger Stakes, courtesy of 12-1 dart throw Otago, left the Monmouth Park faithful in a frenzy.
Operating out of post six for the eight-horse affair, Otago and rider Axel Concepcion patiently navigated their way through traffic before finding an opening outside and beating 14-1 rival Highestdistinction to the wire.
The fiercely contested half-length victory was Otago’s second career stakes success (2023 Sophomore Turf), and first win since Aug. 3, 2024.
Now standing at 5-3-2 across 16 lifetime starts, Otago’s recent heroics paid a handsome $26.60.
Shifting Gears
Seismic Beauty left a sizable impression on Santa Anita’s sunny Sunday afternoon crowd with a dominant display in the $200,000 Santa Margarita (G2).
Forming a tandem with rider Antonio Fresu, Seismic Beauty made an aggressive move to the front and never looked back.
The commanding five-length coast-to-coast triumph was truly a one-horse show, as the field of four was simply no match for the 4-year-old filly.
Seismic Beauty, who presented more as a seasoned champion than the first-time stakes competitor she was, improved to 3-2-1 from six starts.
At 8-5, the Bob Baffert trainee paid $5.40.