Russell, Gonzalez enter stretch in front

Sunday is the final day of the Laurel Park winter meet, which began Jan. 1. The winter meet immediately followed the fall meet, which ran from Sept. 4 through Dec. 31. Racing returns to Pimlico next Thursday, April 2.

With four days remaining in the Laurel season, jockey Sheldon Russell leads Jevian Toledo 38-36 in the standings. Victor Carrasco is third with 29 wins.

Trevor McCarthy, who swept all three Maryland Jockey Club meets in 2014, only recently resumed riding after breaking a wrist in a December spill. McCarthy is 6 for 25 at Laurel since his return.

Claudio Gonzalez leads all trainers at the Laurel winter meet in starts, wins, and purse earnings. Gonzalez is 20 for 97 at the meet, with purse earnings of more than $618,000.

Hugh McMahon is second in the standings with 14 wins, two more than Scott Lake and Hamilton Smith.

Mike Trombetta is second in money earned with $433,000.

Gonzalez, a 38-year-old native of Chile, won his first Maryland Jockey Club title at the Laurel fall meet with 31 wins.