Hybrid Eclipse takes Caesar's Wish, Old Homestead triumphs in Concern
Jockey Jevian Toledo and trainer Brittany Russell teamed to win stakes races at two different tracks Saturday and Toldeo was aboard both runners, including Hybrid Eclipse in the $100,000 Caesar’s Wish at Laurel Park.
Earlier in the afternoon, Toledo guided Russell trainee Whereshetoldmetogo to victory in the $100,000 Alapocas Run at Delaware Park.
The Caesar's Wish shared a Laurel card with the $100,000 Concern won by Old Homestead.
In the Caesar’s Wish, Hybrid Eclipse ($7.40) was always prominent in the one-turn-mile race for fillies and mares. She tracked The Grass Is Blue through an opening quarter in 23.77 seconds before moving to the fore through a half-mile in 47.22 seconds and continuing on for six furlongs in 1:11.71. Hybrid Eclipse covered the distance on a fast track in 1:37.13.
“Coming to the quarter pole [my filly] was kind of even, and when I asked her in the stretch she switched leads and just took off,” Toledo told the publicity department at the Maryland Jockey Club.
Hybrid Eclipse won by 3 3/4 lengths over This Grass Is Blue, while it was another 3 3/4 lengths back in third to Glowsity.
Hybrid Eclipse is a daughter of Paynter who races for Magic Oaks. She has now won 5 of 14 starts for earnings of $267,324. Hybrid Eclipse was winning her first stakes race Saturday.
Edie Meeny Miny Mo was scratched from the Caesar’s Wish.
Old Homestead ($4.60) broke well in the Concern for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs and tracked Scaramouche through an opening quarter in 22.68 seconds. Old Homestead took over through a half-mile in 45.86 and went on to cover the distance in 1:22.65.
“When I asked him to run, he really kicked on,” winning rider Charlie Marquez said in a post-race interview broadcast by Laurel.
Old Homestead won by a length over Nimitz Class, while it was another length back in third to Scaramouche.
Brett Brinkman trains Old Homestead for the horse’s breeders, Marablue Farm and Pegasus Stud. Old Homestead is by Overanalyze and has now won 4 of 5 starts for earnings of $278,325.