Brittany and Sheldon Russell Win Three Races
LAUREL, MD— “He wowed me,” jockey Sheldon Russell said after Frustrated completed six furlongs in a sprightly 1:10 flat to win his career debut in Friday’s second race at Laurel Park, a maiden special weight for 3-year-olds and up.
“That’s a cute horse, man,” said Sheldon’s wife, trainer Brittany Russell, as she headed onto the track to congratulate her team.
A talented one, too.
Frustrated broke from the outside post position in the five-horse field and rated comfortably while outside and clear of traffic, as favored Card Shark covered the opening quarter in 22.82 seconds, prompted by Beach Landing.
Card Shark, a $1 million yearling trained by Graham Motion and ridden by Jorge Ruiz, scooted clear of his primary pace pursuer at the three-eighths pole and braced for Frustrated’s challenge after a half-mile split of 45.72 seconds.
“He came over like a complete pro, traveled like a good horse,” Sheldon Russell said. “You just don’t know how much Jorgie is sitting on. I knew I had horse, but he seemed like he was going easy enough [too].”
Frustrated switched to his right lead just outside the eighth pole and scampered home to win by 2 ¼ lengths over the late-running Plentyof Rogue. Card Shark was another length back in third. Beach Landing and Eclipticals Empire were next. Mythical Magic scratched.
Frustrated paid $4.40 to win as the second betting choice.
Bred in Kentucky by Bridlewood Farm, Frustrated is a 3-year-old gelding by Maclean’s Music, out of Embur’s Zip (by City Zip). His second dam, Embur’s Song (by Unbridled’s Song), was a multiple Grade 3 winner on synthetic tracks.
A $235,000 yearling buyback, Frustrated was purchased by Mike Repole’s Repole Stable for $425,000 last year and sent to trainer Todd Pletcher for early lessons. Frustrated breezed once for Pletcher at Monmouth before being laid up and transferred to Russell.
“He had some setbacks,” Brittany Russell said. “They sent him to Bruce Jackson at Fair Hill, and they obviously got him sorted out. These good ones get ready. He didn’t take much time, really. That was impressive. We were fond of him for a while. He had spent all of his time at Fair Hill with my crew up there. From the first few works, [assistant trainer Emma Wolfe] said this one might be all right.”
*Around the track:
Frustrated completed the early Daily Double for the Russells after Ready Set ($5) romped by 17 ¼ lengths in the opener. They notched a hat trick when Sota Summers ($4.40) blitzed the field in the sixth race. Both Ready Set and Sota Summers are owned by Jeffrey Drown and moved from turf to dirt while dropping from maiden special weights to maiden claiming competition.
Live racing resumes Friday with eight races. First post time is 12:00 pm, and two “Value Pick 5” wagers feature a LOW 12% takeout.
The free “Laurel Park Handicapping Guide” is available on every race day. It features picks, analysis, trainer stats, trip notes, horses to watch, track bias information, and more from The Maryland Jockey Club’s handicapping team. Saturday’s guide is available. Click here to view it.
Join us at Laurel Park on Saturday for “Cigars & Bourbon On The Rail,” presented by WBAL News Radio 1090 AM/101.5 FM. Your all-inclusive ticket includes the finest cigars, bourbon, and whiskey selections at the premium bar, a chef-prepared trackside luncheon, and live Thoroughbred racing. For the menu and tickets, click here.
Never miss a second of the action on the Laurel Park YouTube channel. Click here to watch full pan and head-on replays.
Watch “Today at the Races,” the Maryland Jockey Club’s morning handicapping show every racing day at 11 am ET on the Maryland Jockey Club’s X account. Click here to watch.