Photo:

Turfway Park / Coady Media

Lithe Spirit delivered a stunning 14-1 upset Saturday
night in the 32nd running of the $124,915 Wishing Well Stakes at Turfway Park under
a perfect ride by Joe Ramos for trainer Steve Asmussen.

In the early stages of the 6 1/2-furlong contest, Lithe
Spirit was content to settle in sixth up the backside, tracking a spirited
early pace set by B G Warrior, Awesome Treat, Into Love, Sunday Shoes and Julias
Dream. The opening quarter-mile was contested in 22.94 seconds with Ramos
keeping Lithe Spirit in striking range about four lengths off the lead.

Click here for Turfway Park entries and results.

As the field approached the turn after a half-mile in 46.34
seconds, Ramos guided Lithe Spirit four wide into the clear. Three pacesetters were
still in front with B G Warrior on the rail, Awesome Treat in between and Into
Love in the three path.

At the top of the stretch, Lithe Spirit struck the front but
had to fend off a late surge from 8-5 favorite Nice as Pie, who was
rallying down the center of the course. Lithe Spirit dug in gamely and had
enough left to hold off the favorite by 1 1/4 lengths with a final time of
1:19.09.

Awesome Treat edged B G Warrior for third. The order of
finish after that was completed by Driana, Opera Mundi, Laura’s Charm,
Baby No Worries, Julias Dream, Into Love, and Sunday Shoes.

At odds of 14-1, Lithe Spirit rewarded her backers with $2
mutuel payouts of $30.80, $10.90 and $5.54. Nice as Pie returned $3.40 and
$2.74. Awesome Treat paid $5.20 to show.

Lithe Spirit earned a career-best 87 Brisnet Speed
Rating for her victory, improving her record to 9: 5-0-1 with purse
earnings of $194,371.

A 4-year-old daughter of Speightstown out of Ghostzapper mare Spooky Woods, Lithe Spirit was bred in Kentucky by Yeguada
Centurion and is owned by Bradley Thoroughbreds, Gainesway Stable, Laura
Leigh Stable, Scott Estes and Cambron Equine.