Impressive Early Performance
The horse got away with a lightning-fast 25.13-second quarter-mile, demonstrating its explosive energy. As the real running began, it drew away from its six rivals, leaving them in its wake. This early dominance set the stage for an unforgettable victory.Trainer Wesley Ward's assistant, Blake Heap, was thrilled with the horse's performance. "Beautiful, perfect trip. Kind of what we were hoping," Heap said. "There was really no speed on paper, anyway. When I saw the fractions, he almost went 49 seconds for the half, and he's been running 47 and still hanging pretty hard. He'd been training here so good, I really liked him."
John Velázquez, who rode the horse for its first two starts back east, was also impressed. "I rode this horse for his first two starts back east, and you can see what a good job Wesley has done with him," Velázquez said. "He's grown up. He's matured. Today when I got away with that second quarter, I knew they were going to have a tough time catching us. Then when I asked him, he went. He's turning into a good one."
Final Stretch and Victory
The final time for the race was an impressive 1:36.78 after early fractions of 23.62, 48.75, and 1:13.72. Clock Tower's consistent speed and strong finish allowed it to cross the finish line a 2 1/2-length ahead of the pack.A big win from #8 CLOCK TOWER in the $100,000 Cecil B DeMille Stakes (G3)! The son of @TMStallions Not This Time scored under @ljlmvel for trainer Wesley Ward. This victory not only brought a purse of $60,000 but also increased Clock Tower's earnings to $225,938.
Scipio finished second, 1 1/4 lengths ahead of third-place Origami. Clock Tower's performance in this prestigious race solidified its place in the racing world and left spectators in awe.