In a repeat of last year, trainer Brittany Russell and jockey Jeiron Barbosa finished at the top of their respective standings as historic Pimlico Race Course wrapped up its boutique nine-day fall meet Sunday.
Russell had one winner from three starters Sunday, Michael Dubb and Michael Caruso's 2-year-old filly Low Society ($4) in Race 3, to give her seven for the meet, one more than runner-up Hugh McMahon, who captured the Race 10 finale with Dancinonthebeach ($20.40).
In earning her fifth career title Russell posted training doubles on Sept. 10, including the $75,000 Challedon with Swill, and Sept. 16, when she won the $100,000 Weather Vane with Apple Picker and $100,000 All Along with Full Count Felicia.
“It's awesome. I'll be honest, I don't feel like this was an easy meet for us,” Russell said. “But we had some quality horses show up and I think that's the most important thing. We had some nice horses, some stakes wins, good horses winning good races. That's really what we're here for.”
Low Society gave jockey Jevian Toledo his 1,500th career victory, making the day even more special for Russell and her daughter, Edy, who posed in the winner's circle with Toledo as he was presented with a sign from the Maryland Jockey Club. Low Society wound up being claimed for $30,000.
“That was so exciting. Edy thought it was great. It was a nice surprise on the day,” Russell said. “I knew he was coming close but with a maiden [$30,000} filly 2-year-old race, you weren't even thinking about it. Then he wins the race, and it was a lot of fun. I'm really happy for Toledo because, obviously, he is a huge part of our team.”
Earlier this year the recently turned 34-year-old Russell earned a second straight Preakness Meet at Pimlico title and also ranked second at Laurel winter and summer and fourth at Laurel spring while leading the standings in purse earnings each time.
Already, the Pennsylvania native has surpassed career highs across the board with 477 starters, 124 wins and more than $5.7 million in purse earnings. Leading all Maryland trainers with 81 wins at Laurel and Pimlico this year, she could become the first woman ever to finish as the state's winningest trainer.
Russell's other training titles have come at Laurel's 2022 spring and fall meets. In April she earned her second career graded-stakes victory and first in a Grade 1 with Doppleganger in the Carter Handicap at Aqueduct.
“It's great,” she said. “Obviously, we're delighted and thrilled to win.”
It is the fourth career riding title and first this year for Barbosa, 19, a finalist for the Eclipse Award as outstanding apprentice of 2022, when he captured Laurel Park's spring and fall stands in addition to Pimlico. He went winless Sunday but ended with a 12-7 advantage over Sheldon Russell and apprentice Axel Concepcion.
Barbosa registered five multi-win days during the fall meet that began Sept. 8, including hat tricks Sept. 9 and 22, and he scored an upset victory aboard Built Wright Stable's Double Crown in the $100,000 Polynesian Sept. 10.
Represented by agent Tom Stift, Barbosa ranks second overall in Maryland with 102 wins, trailing only Jaime Rodriguez (113). Barbosa finished second to Rodriguez at Laurel's winter meet with 49 wins and tied with Angel Cruz for second at Laurel's spring stand, one win behind Concepcion.
Barbosa's wins came for nine different trainers: Ray Ginter Jr. (3), Damon Dilodovico (2), Robert Mosco, Hamilton Smith, Milan Milosevic, Phil Capuano, Rudy Sanchez-Salomon, Michael Merryman and Kieron Magee.
“Starting off hot at a short meet is great, but he's been on a roll for a while,” Stift said. “He's just been hot for a couple months. He's riding in the zone. You see him making moves and it's like, 'Whoa.' ”
For the year, Barbosa has 129 wins and more than $4.8 million in purse earnings, ranking in the top 30 nationally in wins and top 35 in money won.
“He's done it quietly. It's pretty impressive,” Stift said. “He's riding aggressive, and people are really noticing now.”
A native of Puerto Rico, where he attended the Escuela Vocacional Hipica jockey school, Barbosa won on each of his first two domestic mounts, Heliacal Rising and Ludicrous Mode, last March 22 at Laurel. His spring title came made him just the third apprentice in the past decade, following Yomar Ortiz (2013) and Julio Correa (2020), to lead Laurel's rider standings.
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