By Patrycja Szpyra
She was the lightest raced in the field, and had started her 2026 campaign last month, but Marjoram (Quality Road) showed her heart to steal the GIII Senorita Stakes in the shadow of the wire in the Santa Anita nightcap.
Unveiled at Churchill Downs Nov. 22 on a sloppy main track, she made her move from sixth coming off the bend and had just enough left late to win by three-quarters of a length over a persistent challenger. She went onto the sidelines before being moved west to this venue, and had established a healthy worktab by the time her seasonal bow arrived Apr. 4 against a field that largely returned for this contest. It also marked her first time going over the downhill turf course and on Lasix.
Everything that could have gone wrong in her race last out, did, as she stumbled badly leaving the gates and was forced to alter course sharply when crossing over the dirt track to avoid a fallen runner. Marjoram managed to make up ground from last to finish a sneaky-good fifth despite the trouble as Mo' Em Down (Caracaro), Will Happen (Vekoma), and Still Unwritten (Cat Burglar) claimed the trifecta, respectively.
Given 7-2 odds as the betting dollars drifted to 3-2 favorite Light Won Up (City of Light), all eyes were on the scramble for the lead as Still Unwritten took the initiative through an opening quarter in :22.22 but had been overtaken by the cavalry after a half-mile in :44.93. Marjoram had once again settled near the back of the action after breaking slowly, but was moving from four off the fence as they rolled into the stretch coming off the hill.
There was still a lot of ground to make up, but she was closing the gap on Light Won Up, who looked to be home free in the late stages. Flying from between rivals in the final strides, she caught the public choice in the last jump to win by a head. Yours Sincerely (Ire) (Cable Bay {Ire}) also arrived on scene late to make things exciting, and she was a half-length back in third in a blanket finish.
“She's a little excited when she sees the gate. I think that's what happened last time,” said winning rider Juan Hernandez, who bookended the card with victories in the first and last races. “She stumbled badly [in the optional claimer] and I almost lost my balance. [Trainer] Michael McCarthy and his team did a good job with her. They took her to the gate. He told me before the race she was doing good.”
“She was a little nervous today, but way better than last time. I broke last, she had no speed, so I just decided to chill and wait until we crossed the dirt. When we crossed [over], I saw a hole and I asked her to pick it up. She did pretty good as she passed all of them. She's a nice filly. She's just a little excited but can run.”
“We've had a pretty good run here the past few weeks,” said McCarthy. “Hats off to Juan and this filly here, Marjoram, they were game today. Had a couple of anxious moments, not quite as anxious as last time she ran.”
MARJORAM ($9.20) ran down the favorite to win the $100,000 Senorita Stakes (G3) at @santaanitapark. @JJHernandezS19 guided the daughter of Quality Road (@LanesEndFarms) to victory. @mwmracing trains and @JuddmonteFarms owns. pic.twitter.com/KL7pMELvBa
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) May 10, 2026
Pedigree Note:
Marjoram hails from a gilded Juddmonte female family, as her dam is a half-sister to multiple Grade I winner Emollient (Empire Maker), herself the mother of Irish multiple Group-placed runner Peace Charter (GB) (War Front); French Listed winner Ardent (Frankel {GB}); and French group winner Raclette (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Another half-sibling to that pair is GI Florida Derby runner-up Hofburg (Tapit).
This victress is the second to the races behind her full-brother, GSW Spiced Up, and they have a juvenile half-sister in the wings named Velvet Spice (Into Mischief). Cardamon has a yearling colt and a 2026 filly at foot who are both by Horse of the Year Flightline.
Second dam Soothing Touch (Touch Gold) doesn't just claim the aforementioned horses through her line, but also Emollient's full-sister Calm Water–she would later gain fame as the dam of G1 Dubai World Cup hero Laurel River (Into Mischief) and his full-brother, track record-setter SP-UAE Castlewarden.
Further back is the fourth dam, multiple Group 1 winner Coup de Genie (Mr. Prospector). She was a sister to Group 1 winner Machiavellian, and went on in her own broodmare career to produce Group 1 winner Denebola and Group 1-placed Loving Kindness. One of her unraced daughters created a separate branch which yielded European champion 3-year-old colt Bago (Fr) and his half-brother, fellow multiple Group 1 winner Maxios (GB).
Saturday, Santa Anita
SENORITA S.-GIII, $102,500, Santa Anita, 5-9, 3yo, f, 6 1/2fT, 1:13.78, fm.
1–MARJORAM, 120, f, 3, by Quality Road
1st Dam: Cardamon, by Pioneerof the Nile
2nd Dam: Soothing Touch, by Touch Gold
3rd Dam: Glia, by A.P. Indy
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Juddmonte (KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy; J-Juan J. Hernandez. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $130,700. *Full to Spiced Up, GSW, $220,135. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Light Won Up, 124, f, 3, City of Light–Factorofwon, by The Factor. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($200,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP; $265,000 2yo '25 OBSMAR). O-Purple Rein Racing and Mark Davis; B-Betz Thoroughbreds/J.Betz/DJ Stables/Epona/Lamantia (KY); T-Doug F. O'Neill. $20,000.
3–Yours Sincerely (Ire), 122, f, 3, Cable Bay (Ire)–Best Regards (Ire), by Tamayuz (GB). (€6,500 Ylg '24 GOAUYR). O-Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, Madaket Stables, LLC, McLean Racing Stables, Jerry McClanahan, and Michael Nentwig; B-Mr Alwarith Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (IRE); T-Philip D'Amato. $12,000.
Margins: HD, HF, 1 3/4. Odds: 3.60, 1.50, 13.90.
Also Ran: Revera, Surfin' U. S. A., Will Happen, Still Unwritten, Bella Lyra (Ger), Mo' Em Down, Dreaming of Alys.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV .
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