Russell's pair get another crack at first stakes win in Thirty Eight Go Go
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Since moving from tougher locales into trainer Brittany Russell’s barn earlier this year, Waveless and Especially have improved to become solid stakes contenders in the Mid-Atlantic. Both 4-year-old fillies have the chance to break through in the $100,000 Thirty Eight Go Go Stakes on Saturday at Laurel Park.
The two Russell trainees will rematch after finishing second and third in the $100,000 Twixt at Laurel last month. Especially, a former Todd Pletcher trainee in New York, handled the good, sealed track better that day to finish 2 1/4 lengths clear of Especially, who was once based in Kentucky for Cherie DeVaux.
In two starts for Russell, Waveless has finished second in two $100,000 stakes, having just missed by a neck in the Maggie Walker at Colonial Downs in July. The wet surface in her October return did not seem to faze the improving filly.
“The time between was probably good for her, but not by design,” Russell said. “She’s just been really consistent since she joined us. It seems as though she’s training well. She hasn’t missed a beat the whole time we’ve had her.”
Especially, who made her stakes debut in the Twixt off a first-level allowance victory in August, did not take to the sealed track as well, though she still overcame a tight start to take third. Russell said she expected improvement.
“That’s a filly that definitely doesn’t prefer any moisture on the racetrack,” Russell said. “We knew that, but we also had to take a swing and see. She ended up third that day, so in a sense, mission accomplished. I think we probably see a better horse on a dry racetrack.”
The field of 11 fillies and mares, including the also-eligible runner Gold Digging Broad, is very evenly matched and could prepare several contenders for bigger spots down the line. Trainer Lindsay Schultz entered the 4-year-old filly Pink Ruby in anticipation of a stint at Oaklawn Park this winter.
“I think we’re pretty well meant here,” Schultz said. “I think she can win the race.”
In August, Pink Ruby switched to turf and earned her first stakes victory in the $125,000 All Brandy at Colonial Downs. She faded to third as the beaten favorite in the $75,000 Ogletown Handicap at Delaware Park next time out, but Schultz has always maintained that she is targeting the $150,000 Pippin at Oaklawn on Dec. 19.
The Canadian-bred mare Dazzling Move, a Grade 3 winner last year, will switch back to dirt in her second start for Carlos David after just missing in the $150,000 Silver Creek for Ontario-breds on synthetic at Woodbine. The Thirty Eight Go Go will be her first stakes start in open company since the Grade 2 Ruffian in May.
Aeolian is one of several runners shipping for the 1 1/16-mile stakes and arguably has had the toughest recent slate. Trained by Chad Brown, she is coming off a distant third in a second-level allowance at Belmont Park in September, her first start since finishing well back in the Grade 2 Shuvee in July.
Ivy Girl, the upset winner of the $150,000 Weber City Miss at Laurel in April, will return to Maryland for trainer Amelia Green.
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