Artemus Citylimits Victorious
Veteran Nine-Year-Old Artemus Citylimits Defends Title, Wins Second Consecutive Vice Regent Stakes
Artemus Citylimits made history at Woodbine on Sunday, winning the $150,000 Vice Regent Stakes for the second year in a row, according to Paulick Report. The 9-year-old bay gelding defied his age and the odds, beating a six-horse field in the five-furlong inner turf sprint.
The win pushes Artemus Citylimits to 10 victories from 12 career starts, a remarkable record for a horse of his age, Paulick Report reported. The race is open to three-year-olds and up, and is restricted to registered Ontario-breds.
Veteran Gelding Upsets the Field at Woodbine
Artemus Citylimits broke from the gate running and never looked back, according to Mahoning Matters. The nine-year-old showed the same sharp speed that carried him to victory a year ago. He crossed the wire first in the five-furlong sprint on the inner turf course at Woodbine.
At age nine, Artemus Citylimits is considered a veteran by horse racing standards. Most horses retire or decline well before reaching that age. Back-to-back stakes wins at nine years old is a rare feat in the sport, Tri-City Herald noted.
New Trainer Audrey Cheung Guides the Champion Home
Artemus Citylimits ran under a new trainer this time. Audrey Cheung took over conditioning duties from former conditioner Martin Drexler, according to Fresno Bee. The change in the barn did not slow the horse down at all.
Jockey Eswan Flores rode Artemus Citylimits to victory, according to Miami Herald. Flores and Cheung combined to keep the horse sharp and ready for the defense of his title. The win shows the horse adapted smoothly to his new training setup.
A Career Record That Stands Out in Ontario Racing
Artemus Citylimits now holds a career mark of 10 wins from 12 starts, News Observer reported. That is an 83 percent win rate — a number almost unheard of in stakes-level competition. The Vice Regent Stakes is one of the top sprints for Ontario-breds at Woodbine.
The Vice Regent Stakes carries a $150,000 purse and draws the best Ontario-bred sprinters in Canada. Artemus Citylimits has now claimed that purse in consecutive years. His back-to-back wins cement his place as one of the top older horses in Canadian turf racing, according to Paulick Report.
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