Marjoram Goes From Last to First in Senorita Stakes

Marjoram's sire Quality Road and her dam Cardamon—a half sister to multiple grade 1 winner Emollient—scored their wins on dirt, and Marjoram showed a high level of effectiveness on the surface in capturing her debut at Churchill Downs last fall. But she's now a grade 3 winner sprinting on grass, just like her older full brother, 4-year-old Spiced Up, winner of last year's Mahony Stakes (G3T) at Saratoga Race Course. Utilizing a come-from-behind style similar to Spiced Up, Juddmonte's Marjoram rallied from last in a field of 3-year-old fillies in the $102,500 Senorita Stakes (G3T) May 9 to catch favored Light Won Up in the final strides of the about 6 1/2-furlong dash over the hillside turf course at Santa Anita Park. Kicking into gear behind splits of :22.22, :44.93, and 1:07.84, Marjoram hit the wire in 1:13.78 under Juan Hernandez over firm ground. She paid $9.20 to win. Yours Sincerely (IRE) rallied wide to show. The victory improved Marjoram to 2-for-3 and represented a bounce-back performance from a troubled fifth-place finish in her lone defeat, an April 4 first-level allowance optional claiming race on grass at Santa Anita that marked her first start of 2026 and her turf debut. "Hats off to Juan and this filly, Marjoram. They were game today," said trainer Michael McCarthy. With the victory, Marjoram became the 100th black-type stakes winner for Quality Road, who stands for $100,000 at Lane's End in Kentucky.