Anna’s Promise wires them in Twixt Stakes
LAUREL, MD—Saturday was a great day at Laurel Park for the Russell family, as jockey Sheldon Russell and his wife, trainer Brittany Russell, won three races, including two stakes races.
Winterfell, a hulking 5-year-old gelding by Arrogate, put the finishing touches on the family’s masterpiece and preserved his perfect record at Laurel Park with a two-length win in the $100,000 Polynesian Stakes for 3-year-olds and up over a mile.
“I was really pleased with his effort today,” Brittany Russell said. “I was a little surprised to see him show speed. I think he was a little on his toes today. He broke well, and Sheldon just opted to go along with it. He traveled great, and it worked out.”
Sheldon Russell concurred. “He’s been sharp since Colonial shut down. His regular exercise rider, Feargal Lynch, does a great job. He touts himself walking to the track. I believe Brittany jogged him this morning just to try and take the edge off. Warming up, he was on his toes, ready to go. He’s probably happy to be home.”
Winterfell pressed the pace between rail-drawn Bold Diversion and a three-wide J J Zo Zo, covering the opening quarter in 23.69 seconds, then took the lead and the inside after a half-mile in 47.09 seconds.
“I didn’t see a whole lot of speed,” Sheldon Russell noted. “He put me right there. I didn’t feel confident enough to let [J J Zo Zo] cross over. I stayed out of [Winterfell’s] way. I didn’t push him or take him back. He got into such a nice [stride], and I just left him alone.”
Winterfell opened a clear lead after six furlongs in 1:11.70 and kicked to a second-wire finish. He drifted out a bit in the final sixteenth but still had enough left to deny late-running Zero Blitz in 1:37.62 on the sealed, good racetrack.
Stronsino finished a length behind Zero Blitz. J J Zo Zo, Bold Diversion, and Mr. Ripple followed. Shaft’s Bullet scratched out.
Winterfell, the betting favorite, paid $4 to win.
“I don’t think he’s a front-runner,” Sheldon Russell said. “He was sort of waiting for them at the top of the stretch, and it’s a long run to the second wire. I’m happy he’s back to his winning ways. He’s really classy. A beautiful animal.”
Bred in Kentucky by Adirondack Bloodstock, Winterfell was a $400,000 yearling purchase. He races for SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madakat Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Robert Masterson, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, and Tom Ryan.
Winterfell began his career in Southern California with trainer Bob Baffert but failed to win in his first five starts. After being transferred to Brittany Russell, the colt perked up, winning a maiden special weight at Parx by eight lengths, a first-level allowance at Laurel by 3 ¾ lengths, and the City of Laurel Stakes here by two lengths.
Those successes brought Winterfell back to Baffert, and the gray finished fifth of six in the Grade 1 Malibu, his final start of 2024. After more than a year away, he raced again in Southern California, finishing third in a high-level allowance, then returned to the Mid-Atlantic region.
Winterfell raced once for Brittany Russell before the Polynesian, finishing a solid third in a high-level allowance race at Colonial Downs on August 20.
“He had a long time off [before] the Colonial race, and he was probably run off of his feet,” Sheldon Russell said about the summer run.
Winterfell has won at distances ranging from seven furlongs to 1 1/16 miles, and Brittany Russell will consider stretching him out in the future.
“I definitely think it’s possible,” she said. “He loves Laurel. He’s been very good here at home. Distance, I definitely don’t believe, is any issue for him.”
The Russells have won the past three editions of the Polynesian. Their popular Maryland-bred Post Time won the race in both 2024 and 2025.
Although Polynesian won the Preakness Stakes in 1945 and was named American Champion Sprinter two years later, he is perhaps best known for siring Hall of Famer Native Dancer, who won 21 of 22 starts, captured two-thirds of the 1953 Triple Crown, and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1963.
A nine-time stakes winner, Polynesian retired to stud with a record of 27 wins from 58 starts.
*Anna’s Promise wires them in Twixt Stakes
Anna’s Promise led from flagfall to the finish in the $100,000 Twixt Stakes for fillies and mares at one mile.
“I saw the last time she won; it was on a muddy track, too,” said jockey Jevian Toledo. “So, I think that’s the way she likes it. This kind of track. She broke forward. She put me in a good position.”
As the third choice in the wagering, Anna’s Promise controlled the tempo through splits of 23.91, 46.93, and 1:11.68, then braced for a strong challenge from favored Waveless. The two raced head-to-head for the lead as they turned into the stretch.
“She relaxed,” Toledo continued. “She felt the other horse next to me, and she picked up the bridle. But, at the same time, she was a little bit relaxed, so I knew I had horse left. [Waveless] put the head in front, but she never opened up on me, and I felt my filly trying. I was worried someone would come flying on the outside.”
Anna’s Promise shrugged off Waveless to win by 1 ¼ lengths in 1:38.42. Especially finished third, 2 ¼ lengths behind the runner-up. Reputation, Sheilahs Warcloud, and defending Twixt winner Foxy Junior followed.
Amalfi Drive, Dazzling Move, and Doctor Abbie scratched. Anna’s Promise paid $8.60 to win.
“That was the perfect race,” said trainer Carlos David by phone from South Florida. “I got to give the credit to my client. He picked the race. We were trying to run in a [third-level] allowance, but those races never go, so we were looking to pick up some blacktype for her. The other speed was scratched, so I told Jevian to break good. She likes to be on the lead. If somebody gets the lead [from her], she likes to be in a fight.”
David also credited owner Billy Bell of Bell Racing for dropping a $50,000 claim slip on Anna’s Promise on February 6, 2025. Anna’s Promise won that day, and she took her connections to heights they hadn’t expected.
Two starts later, she finished second in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Oaks. That race led to a start in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, where Anna’s Promise finished fifth. The following month, she ran third in Churchill Downs’ Monomoy Girl Stakes.
“We won a two-way shake that day, and she took me on a fun ride to the [Kentucky Oaks],” David recalled. “She’s just fun to be around. She’s a very honest filly.”
Bred in Kentucky by Baron Thoroughbreds, Anna’s Promise is a 4-year-old chestnut by Promises Fulfilled. After her successful run last year, she was consigned to the Keeneland November sale but was bought back for $210,000.
David mentioned a possible next start in the Grade 3, $300,000 Falls City Stakes at Churchill Downs on November 26, but she is also entered in this year’s Keeneland auction earlier that month.
Twixt, a 1969 foal by Restless Native, was named Maryland-bred Horse of the Year in 1973 and 1974. Her major victories include the Grade 1 Top Flight Handicap at Aqueduct, the Grade 2 Milady Handicap at Hollywood Park, the Grade 2 Susquehanna Handicap at Liberty Bell, and back-to-back wins in the Grade 3 Barbara Fritchie Handicap at Laurel Park.
She retired with 26 wins in 70 starts and earned $619,141. At the time of her retirement, Twixt was Maryland’s all-time leading money-winning mare and had won 18 stakes, more than any other Maryland-bred mare in history.
*Around the track
Trainer Ferris Allen bookended the Saturday card with winners. He teamed with jockey Jeiron Barbosa in the opener aboard Play It Cool ($7), then watched jockey Horacio Karamanos ride Watch Me Sparkle ($3.80) to a dominant 17-length win in the finale.
Live racing resumes Sunday with ten races. First post time is 12:00 pm, and there are two “Value Pick 5” wagers with a LOW 12% takeout.
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