Lithe Spirit ends victory drought with Queen Stakes

Lithe Spirit won the 2025 edition of the Queen Stakes for female sprinters, capping a four-race win streak that included a trio of wins at Turfway Park. But that was her last victory for a year. In Saturday night's renewal of the $125,000 Queen, the mare got back in the winner's circle, defeating some of her recent vanquishers with a length win on the Tapeta.

Lithe Spirit ($16.66), who is trained by Steve Asmussen for Bradley Thoroughbreds, Gainesway Stable, Laura Leigh Stable, Scott Estes, and Cambron Equine, won the 2025 Wishing Well Stakes and Queen Stakes at Turfway, following allowance-level wins at Indiana and at Turfway.

However, following that streak she finished ninth in the Grade 3 Giant's Causeway at Keeneland and sixth in the Grade 3 Hendrie at Woodbine. Returned to Turfway this winter, she was fourth in the Holiday Inaugural on Dec. 21, and fifth in the Wishing Well on Feb. 6.

Saturday night, however, Lithe Spirit sat a perfect trip stalking on the outside under Rafael Hernandez, as Mega Mil zipped through opening splits of 21.94 seconds for the quarter and 44.66 seconds for the half. Her closest pursuer was Ms. Tart, who was third in the Holiday Inaugural before taking the Wishing Well.

Lithe Spirit was breathing down Ms. Tart's neck as the field came to the quarter pole. Although Mega Mil tried to cling gamely, Lithe Spirit found her measure in the final sixteenth and strode away, finishing the six furlongs in 1:09.82.

Mega Mil held second by a neck over the closing Whippoorwill. Ms. Tart was fourth, followed by Dala, favored Cynane, who was no factor, and Civetta. Bourbon Memory stumbled at the start, losing rider Gerardo Corrales.

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