Hello Beautiful tuning up for Fritchie as big favorite in What a Summer Stakes

Brittany Russell’s breakout 2020 season concluded with a 20-for-52 winning streak from Nov. 1 through New Year’s Eve. On Saturday, Russell’s star pupil, Hello Beautiful, looks to keep that momentum going as a heavy favorite in the $100,000 What a Summer Stakes for fillies and mares at six furlongs.

“Oh, she’s just so special,” Russell said about Hello Beautiful. “There was a time when I had four horses standing in the shed row, and she was the horse that was here then and she’s the horse that’s still here now. She’s the reason I have a full barn.”

A perfect 6 for 6 at Laurel, Hello Beautiful enters the What a Summer following 96-Beyer Speed Figure performances in the Maryland Million Distaff and Safely Kept. Both of those races were at seven furlongs.

“She hasn’t missed a beat. The goal is the Fritchie, so we were just figuring out the best way to get her there,” Russell said of the Grade 3, $250,000 Runhappy Barbara Fritchie on Feb. 13. “If we needed to skip this one and give her more time, we would have done it, but she’s been touting herself and acting like she needed to run.”

It is a family affair in the case of Hello Beautiful. Russell’s husband, Sheldon Russell, fresh off winning the riding title at Laurel’s fall meeting, has piloted the filly in all but two of her starts.

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Hello Beautiful’s main asset is her high cruising speed. There are other swift horses in the What a Summer, most notably Cause I’m Edgy and Malibu Mischief. Hello Beautiful, breaking from post 3 in the nine-horse field, is inside those foes.

“We leave it up to Sheldon. If somebody wants to wing it out there, if he can jump its heels and get her into a soft spot outside, that would be fine,” Russell said. “But, if she breaks and goes, I mean I guess from the three hole, she’s going to have to.”

If a speed duel develops, Club Car and Escapade might take advantage. Bella Aurora and New York Groove also might benefit from a pace dispute. Tarawa and Bridlewood Cat complete the field.

The What a Summer is one of six stakes on the nine-race Laurel Park Winter Carnival program that has a first post of 12:25 p.m. Eastern.

Spectacular Bid Stakes

The $100,000 Spectacular Bid Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs lost its favorite when undefeated Jaxon Traveler was withdrawn due to a foot issue.

“It’s just bad timing,” said Terry Finley, CEO of West Point Thoroughbreds. “He just took a little bit off his frog. No big deal. We’re going to go to Oaklawn.”

With Jaxon Traveler out, the Spectacular Bid is now a more attractive betting race. Russell sends out Maythehorsebwithu following a gate-to-wire performance.

“We’ve always liked him,” Russell said. “Always thought he had some ability. Maybe just had a few things happen along the way that made us scratch our head. Last time, he really stepped up. It was the first time he was able to walk out of his stall at home. I think that means a lot.”

Trainer Dale Capuano counters with Kenny Had a Notion, a stakes winner on both dirt and turf. In his most recent start, he set a fast pace only be collared late by favored No Cents.

Capuano’s younger brother, Gary, saddles Shackqueenking. Never out of the exacta, Shackqueenking turns back after a game win in the $100,000 Howard County Stakes. Both of Shackqueenking’s wins have come around two turns, but a quick pace should aid his kick.

Erawan, third in the Howard County, looms a late threat along with Nobody Knew, recently second to Maythehorsebwithyou. Tiz Mandate, Wicked Prankster, Golden Gulley, and Scotch Rocks complete the field.

◗ Gale should go favored in the $75,000 Geisha for fillies and mares at a mile. In her most recent start, the Grade 3 Comely, Gale broke horribly, raced five wide, and made a premature middle move. She gets class relief and should be tough with a clean trip.

◗ Street Lute, the leading 3-year-old filly based in Maryland, figures a solid favorite in the $100,000 Xtra Heat at six furlongs. A winner in 5 of 6 for Jerry Robb, Street Lute must deal with Miss Leslie, who is turning back in distance after winning the Anne Arundel County.

◗ Share the Ride, last-out winner of the Grade 3 Fall Highweight Handicap, tackles Grade 3 De Francis Memorial Dash winner Laki, 13-time winner Penguin Power, and popular Maryland-bred Karan’s Notion in a salty edition of the $100,000 Fire Plug Stakes at six furlongs.

◗ Cordmaker has finished behind Harpers First Ride in his last five starts. With that foe preparing for next week’s Pegasus World Cup, perhaps it is finally Cordmaker’s time to shine in the $75,000 Jennings for older males.