Marksman Queen gives Motion 10th win in Robert G. Dick

Pacesetting favorite Marksman Queen withstood a late rally by Spanish Eyes on Saturday, holding on to win by a head in the Grade 3, $250,000 Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes, the 1 3/8-mile turf feature for fillies and mares at Delaware Park.

For trainer Graham Motion, it was a record-extending 10th victory in the race.

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“I am amazed and humbled to win this race a 10th time,” Motion told a Delaware Park spokesperson. “Some really good distance-turf fillies have run in this race. It is an honor to win such a big race this many times.”

Bred and owned by Cayton Park Stud, the 5-year-old Dubawi mare bred in Great Britain has won back-to-back starts. She led from gate to wire again Saturday as she did May 24 at Churchill Downs, where she finished first by a half-length in the listed Keertana going 1 1/2 miles.

Jorge Ruiz, who was replaced for Marksman Queen’s last two starts by Frankie Dettori, returned to the irons and found the lead quickly from the rail post in the three-turn race which had five starters. Marksman Queen (6-5) was stalked by Boss Lady Bailey (4-1) through the first half-mile and then by Parish Lane (9-2) the second time up the backstretch.

Spanish Eyes (3-2), ridden by Jaime Rodríguez for trainer Brendan Walsh, made a slingshot-like move going four wide around the final turn to move from last into a threatening second. But Marksman Queen had enough left to maintain a lead which never was more than a length at any call. Spanish Eyes had one last burst of speed in the last 50 yards, but it was not enough.

“It was an awesome performance by Marksman Queen,” Motion said. “She is such a tenacious and game mare. Jorge was awesome and did a terrific job with her trip.”

Ruiz also teamed with Motion to win the Robert G. Dick two years ago with Sopran Basilea.

Marksman Queen paid $4.60, $2.40 and $2.10 across the board. Spanish Eyes, who raced in her native Germany until this year, finished second and returned $2.40 and $2.10. Third-place Boss Lady Bailey finished 2 3/4 lengths up the track and paid $2.20. Parish Lane weakened to fourth, and Party (30-1) finished last.

The winning time on the firm course was 2:15.85, but it was clocked by hand. The Equibase chart said there was a “timer malfunction (which) resulted in no fractional times.”

After winning a pair of novice races as a 2-year-old in England, Marksman Queen made a victorious move to America in a December 2023 allowance race at Gulfstream Park. Then she lost her next 10 starts before getting back to the winner’s circle this spring at Churchill Downs.

Marksman Queen, who has a record of 17: 5-3-2, added $150,000 to bring her purse earnings to $382,398.