Motion Eyes Ninth Dick Memorial Win With Marksman Queen

Trainer Graham Motion has captured the $250,000 Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes (G3T) a record nine times since the race's inception in 1997. With Delaware Park only a short 15-minute van ride away from the trainer's home base at Fair Hill Training Center near Elkton, Md., the Dick Memorial has served as the ideal target for many of the conditioner's top-class turf mares. This year's edition is no different, as Motion will saddle last-out Keertana Stakes victress Marksman Queen (GB) July 5 for Cayton Park Stud. The 5-year-old daughter of Dubawi (IRE) exits the gate-to-wire triumph May 24 at Churchill Downs with a 101 Equibase Speed Figure. Drawing the rail with jockey Jorge Ruiz in the irons, it's likely Marksman Queen will employ similar front-running tactics in Saturday's 1 3/8-mile contest. A trio of Kentucky invaders ship into Delaware to upset the local parade, led by the Eddie Kenneally-trained Parish Lane. The consistent Justify filly will be looking for her first black-type victory for R Unicorn Stable. Never worse than third in her four starts this year, Parish Lane was third in a 1 3/8-mile second-level allowance June 11. The other Kentucky shippers include Spanish Eyes (GER), second in the German Oaks (G1) last August, and Keertana fourth-place finisher Boss Lady Bailey from the Mike Maker barn.