A quick turnaround and an extra half-furlong didn't matter as Joel Politi's Maryland homebred Bosserati ran her win streak to three races, all since being moved to the grass, with a front-running half-length triumph over favored My Sweet Girl in Sunday's $100,000 Stormy Blues at Laurel Park.
The 15th running of the 5 ½-furlong Stormy Blues for 3-year-old fillies on the Bowl Game turf course, the first of 16 stakes worth a total of $1.525 million in purses during Laurel's 33-day summer meet, headlined a nine-race Father's Day program.
The victory marked the first in a stakes for Bosserati ($11.60) and first in the Stormy Blues for jockey Sheldon Russell, who was joined in the winner's circle by his wife, winning trainer Brittany Russell, and daughter, Edy. The Russells are also parents to son, Rye.
“I'm happy to be here. Both of my kids are here and it's a special day. They're probably my greatest gifts,” Sheldon Russell said. “I'm just a proud father, especially winning the stakes today.”
Bosserati went into the Stormy Blues off back-to-back wins sprinting five furlongs on the turf at historic Pimlico Race Course, the latter just 16 days prior. The Holy Boss filly made her first seven starts on dirt, winning her unveiling at Timonium and running third in the Maryland Million Lassie last fall, but had lost six straight before getting time off before the surface switch.
“Early on in her career she was really fast on the dirt,” Sheldon Russell said. “I'll be honest with you, we had a couple bad experiences on the dirt and fair play to Joel Politi. He was always the one that sort of wanted to try her on the grass and she hasn't taken a step wrong on the grass. If anything, she's just gotten better. Really happy to get him the win today.”
Bosserati inherited the rail with the scratch of Hidewright Away and broke running, speeding through a quarter-mile in :21.55 tracked by 2022 Colleen winner Sweet Harmony and Caroline Krystyna, exiting an impressive debut triumph at Pimlico. The half went in :43.76 with Bosserati still in charge and After Eight making up ground along the inside to get into contention.
Russell set Bosserati down for a drive to the second finish line and she responded by digging in to put away After Eight inside the eighth pole and had enough left to hold off a late run on the outside from even-money favorite My Sweet Affair, who edged After Eight by a half-length for second. It was another half-length back to Bosserati's late-running stablemate Apple Picker in fourth, followed by Caroline Krystyna and Sweet Harmony. Alva North, entered for main track only, was scratched.
Angel Cruz, aboard Sweet Harmony, lodged an objection alleging interference leaving the far turn, as did rider Feargal Lynch, on My Sweet Affair, regarding the break. Stewards dismissed both claims.
“I wasn't really worried. She always gives me a lot of confidence,” Sheldon Russell said. “She's always one that sort of breaks really sharp so I was kind of happy we were inside, that way I didn't have to use her and cross her over. She broke sharp and I just gathered her up to save something for the end. Just very happy it all worked out.”
Bosserati, who was produced by the Twirling Candy mare Candy Striper, is among 29 nominees to the $75,000 Jameela for Maryland-bred/sired fillies and mares 3 and up scheduled for six furlongs on the Laurel turf July 1.
The Stormy Blues is named for one of the top 2-year-old fillies of 1994 trained by late Hall of Famer Scotty Schulhofer, whose four wins in six starts that year included the Matron (G1), Sorority (G3) and Selima (G3), the latter at Laurel Park.
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