(Lithe Spirit Wins Turfway Park’s Queen Stakes / Photo by Coady Media)

From the Turfway Park Media Team / Kevin Kerstein:

LITHE SPIRIT HOLDS OFF LATE CHARGE OF LONGSHOT GET TWISTED

TO WIN $125,000 QUEEN STAKES

FLORENCE, Ky. (Saturday, March 15, 2025) – Bradley Thoroughbreds, Gainesway Stable, Laura Leigh Stable, Scott Estes, and Cambron Equine’s Lithe Spirit held off a late surge by Get Twisted to win Saturday night’s 29th running of the $125,000 Queen Stakes at Turfway Park Racing & Gaming.

Trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by Joe Ramos, Lithe Spirit sustained a five-wide rally to complete six furlongs in a sharp 1:10.29 for her sixth-lifetime win from just 10 starts.

Ramos positioned Lithe Spirit in sixth early, tracking a contested pace set by Girl of My Dreams, Always Waiting, Moonlit Lady and High Fashion Kate. After a swift opening quarter-mile in :21.87, Lithe Spirit advanced and was tipped five wide turning for home. She struck the front at the three-sixteenths pole but had to fend off several late challengers, including 5-2 favorite Nice as Pie, the slow-starting Awesome Treat and longshot Get Twisted, who was closing down the center of the track. Lithe Spirit dug in to hold off Get Twisted at the wire by a diminishing head.

It was another length back to Awesome Treat in third, followed by Nice as Pie, Sickle Dance, Cloudwalker, Moonlit Lady, Always Waiting, High Fashion Kate, These Apples and Girl of My Dreams.

Lithe Spirit paid $8.70 for her victory, which marked her fourth consecutive win dating back to Oct. 29. Her career earnings now stand at $267,651.

The 4-year-old chestnut filly is by Speightstown out of the Ghostzapper mare Spooky Woods. She was bred in Kentucky by Yeguada Centurion.

Live racing resumes Wednesday at Turfway Park with a first post of 5:55 p.m. Saturday is Jeff Ruby Steaks Day at Turfway Park, featuring a 13-race program beginning at 12:45 p.m. Tickets are available at www.turfway.com.