Artemus Citylimits springs the upset in Vice Regent

August 17, 2025

TORONTO, August 17, 2025 – Artemus Citylimits, at 19-1, stormed home to take top prize in the $150,000 Vice Regent Stakes, Sunday at Woodbine. 

Artemus Citylimits came into the five-furlong race over the inner turf for Ontario-bred 3-year-olds and up having never won at the stakes level and having gone winless over the past three-plus years.

That all changed on a cloudy afternoon in Toronto.

His stablemate Silent Reserve was quickest away of all, securing the lead jumps out of the gate, followed by Babbo, who was supplemented to the race, Ready to Collect and Giant Teddy, while Xarel Forde had Artemus Citylimits settled into fifth through an opening quarter in :21.86.

It was still Silent Reserve on top heading into the turn for home, but Forde had his charge primed and ready to pounce three-wide straightening for the stretch drive. With about 150 yards to the wire, Artemus Citylimits forged to the front, but was immediately confronted by a hard-charging Giant Teddy, with a clear run six-wide, Ready to Collect, and 4-5 choice Outlaw Kid, the two-time defending Vice Regent champion, who had endured a troubled trip for most of the way.

At the wire, Artemus Citylimits, trained by Martin Drexler, emerged a neck winner. Giant Teddy, at 24-1, was second, a nose ahead of 50-1 Ready to Collect. Outlaw Kid was fourth. Its Time to Shine was scratched.

The final time over good ground was :57.19.

A well-traveled 8-year-old son of Temple City out of the City Zip mare Dene Court, Artemus Citylimits’ racetrack passport includes stops at Turfway Park, Churchill, Keeneland, Canterbury Park, Lone Star, Ellis Park, Fair Grounds and Gulfstream.

“It went to plan,” said Forde, who celebrated his first Woodbine stakes score. “He had a good break, and we just sat behind the speed. And then turning for home, I set him loose.”

Drexler had high praise for the bay gelding, owned by Dwight Baron, whose most recent prior to Sunday was at Saratoga on July 21, 2022, his second straight victory.

“That’s actually why he came here,” said Drexler, of the decision to bring the horse to Woodbine for this race. “It’s been a little tricky finding the right spots for him, but he did run well last time (third, elevated to second, on June 12 at Woodbine) – he actually got into a little bit of trouble. He might have won it even.

“We tried to get him into a race before this race, but I didn’t really like the time of it. So, I said, ‘Let’s just wait for this.’ I really liked him going on. I had the other horse (Silent Reserve, sixth) in there, too, and he was the speed horse. I think he probably didn’t love the soft going. This horse, it was a good setup for him, and he finished up well.”

Bred by Gunpowder Farms, LLC, Artemus Citylimits, who was fifth in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1), is now 7-8-9 from 36 starts.

He paid $40.40 for today’s win.

Chris Lomon, Woodbine