Hybrid Eclipse repeats in Thirty Eight Go Go

For the second consecutive year, Hybrid Eclipse took advantage of a competitive pace to post a rallying victory in the $150,000 Thirty Eight Go Go Stakes at Laurel Park.

The Thirty Eight Go Go, for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles, shared top billing on the Saturday program with two $100,000 stakes for 2-year-olds at six furlongs, the James F. Lewis III and the Smart Halo for fillies.

Hybrid Eclipse is a one-run closer that needs a bit of pace and race luck to go along with her hefty talent.

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Odds-on favorite Opus Forty Two provided the pace.

Hybrid Eclipse’s jockey, Sheldon Russell, took care of the rest.

Opus Forty Two was expected to be forwardly-placed, but was unfortunate to break from the far outside post with a very short run into the first turn.

Thus, she was four wide and pulling hard after an opening quarter of 23.81 seconds with Milagrosa Surena, Hashtag Lucky, and a three-wide Malibu Beauty trying to back things down in front of her.

Jockey Daniel Centeno had limited options heading into the backstretch, and he let Opus Forty Two brush to the front after a half-mile in 47.58 seconds. They cleared to the rail with the lead after a six-furlong clocking in 1:12.84, but their early efforts took their toll.

Opus Forty Two’s stride shortened in the final three-sixteenths of a mile while Hybrid Eclipse, who settled at the back along the inside under Russell, eased out for a clear shot with plenty of run.

Hybrid Eclipse sling-shotted past Opus Forty Two to prevail by 5 1/4 lengths in 1:46.28. Opus Forty Two was a game second with Sweet Willemina another three lengths back in third. Next were Malibu Beauty, Champagne Toast, Hashtag Lucky, I’m Gittin There, and Milagrosa Surena.

“She’s one you can’t really rush early on in the race,” Sheldon Russell said in a post-race interview broadcast by Laurel Park. “As long as I’m following the right horse, you just can’t get her stopped. It worked out great today where the rail’s sort of been wide-open the whole race. She sort of ran up in there, and I was just trying to follow Danny Centeno. She was awesome today.”

Luna Belle and Interepid Daydream scratched.

Hybrid Eclipse returned $6.80 as the second choice in the wagering.

Trained by Brittany Russell for Stuart Grant’s The Elkstone Group, Hybrid Eclipse was bred in Kentucky by Alex Venneri Racing. A daughter of the recently deceased Paynter, she was purchased by Grant at public auction for $107,000 after winning Laurel's Caesar’s Wish Stakes during the summer of 2022.

Overall, Hybrid Eclipse has 9 wins from 24 starts for career earnings of $574,324.

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