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 July 5 for Cayton Park Stud. The 5-year-old daughter of Dubawi 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, second in the German Oaks (G1) last August, and Keertana fourth-place finisher Boss Lady Bailey from the Mike Maker barn.
Delaware Park, Saturday, July 5, 2025, Race 5Entries: Robert G. Dick Memorial S. (G3T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Marksman Queen (GB) Jorge Ruiz 124 H. Graham Motion 8/5 2 2Malibu Beauty (MD) UNKNOWN 118 Gary Capuano 8/1 3 3Party (KY) Sara Del Fabbro 118 Benjamin W. Perkins, Jr. 10/1 4 4Boss Lady Bailey (KY) Daniel Centeno 122 Michael J. Maker 6/1 5 5Spanish Eyes (GER) Jaime Rodriguez 118 Brendan P. Walsh 7/2 6 6Parish Lane (KY) Mychel J. Sanchez 122 Eddie Kenneally 5/2
