Salty Vet Artemus Citylimits repeats in the Vice Regent

TORONTO, August 16, 2026 – Defending champion Artemus Citylimits scored one for the old campaigners, going wire to wire to win his second consecutive running of the $150,000 Vice Regent Stakes at Woodbine.

The nine-year-old bay gelding won the 2025 Vice Regent, scoring a $40.40 upset with jockey Xarel Forde and former conditioner Martin Drexler. ​ ​

Now trained by Audrey Cheung, Artemus Citylimits set out Sunday to defend his title with early intent. Ridden by Eswan Flores, Artemus Citylimits (Temple City – Dene Court, by City Zip) broke running in the five-furlong inner turf sprint for three-year-olds and upward, registered Ontario-bred. ​

The most experienced runner in the six horse field, Artemus Citylimits, under restraint from Flores, comfortably led the field into the turn through an opening quarter mile in :22.02. Mister Blue was in pursuit on the rail, with Light the Lamp to his outside. Dark Screen was just behind the top trio, with favourite Outlaw Kid racing fifth and Cost of War in sixth. ​

Inside the quarter-pole, Light the Lamp was in stalking range of the defending champion, but Flores and Artemus Citylimits kicked away in the lane, while never being headed to win by a comfortable 1 3/4 lengths. ​ The half mile running time was :44.39 and the final time over the course listed as ‘firm’ was :56.02. ​

Flores knows Artemus Citylimits well from having ridden him multiple times previously, including a 3 1/2 length front running win in the veteran’s tune up for his Vice Regent defense. ​

“He’s a pretty cool horse. Today, he did get a little wound up going to the gate, but he’s all class, he does his thing,” said Flores, who has now been aboard for his last three wins. “This is the kind of horse that doesn’t like to be bothered. He’s a professional, he’s been here awhile.” ​ ​

Cheung, in her first season as a licensed trainer, notched her first career stakes win and thanked her owners for the opportunity to train Artemus Citylimits, now a 10-time winner from 48 career starts. ​ ​

“I’m just starting out this year and it’s a stretch to give me a nice horse like this, so I really appreciate it,” said Cheung.

Despite his senior citizen thoroughbred status, Cheung said the old fella is still a handful. ​ ​ ​

“He does not act like a nine-year-old, he is not that easy to ride in the morning,” laughed Cheung. ​

Following Artemus Citylimits most recent win on July 5th, Cheung prepped him with a pair of three panel main track drills, including a bullet on August 7th in :36.60, best of 13 that day. ​ ​ ​ ​

“We tried to make sure he was extra sharp coming into this race,” she said. ​ ​

“Eswan gave him a great ride. ​ We did say we want to be on the lead. ​ We were worried about the one horse (Mister Blue), but I said Eswan, ‘you ride your race and just let him run’ and Eswan did.” ​

Bred in Ontario by Gunpowder Farms LLC and owned by Dwight D. Baron, the multiple graded stakes placed Artemus Citylimits improved his career record 10-11-12 from 48 lifetime starts, including 3-1-4 in 13 starts at the five-furlong turf distance.

The winner was listed at 12-1 on the morning line, was bet down to 2.55 to 1 and returned $7.10 for his successful defense. ​ ​

Outlaw Kid, a two-time Vice Regent winner and the race favourite, rallied to be second, while Light the Lamp was third and Dark Screen was fourth.

Phil McSween, Woodbine