LAUREL, MD. 01-03-15---Shadwell Stable’s Elnaawi shipped to Laurel from Belmont Park in fighting form and took a victory lap in the 1-1/6^th mile, $100,000 Native Dancer Stakes, the last of four stakes this afternoon at Laurel Park.

Sheldon Russell was winning his second stakes on the afternoon as he guided the son of Street Sense for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin to a 7-1/4 length victory. Turco Bravo was second and Cosmic Gold finished third. Betting favorite Stormin Monarcho finished fifth.

“The race worked out perfect,” Russell said. “He warmed up good and he took a liking to the track. He broke well and put me in a great spot. I thought Stormin Monarcho was the horse to beat. When he started backing up, my horse made a huge run and we never looked back.”

This was the first stakes win for Elnaawi, whose best previous stakes appearances were third place finishes in the Yankee Affair Stakes at Belmont Park last September and the 2013 Gotham Stakes (G3).

“I told Sheldon to try to keep this horse close. He gave him an excellent ride today,” said assistant trainer Austin Luttrell. “He has been training very well and doing everything that we’ve expected. He ran exceptionally well at Keeneland (an allowance win two races back). He enjoys the wet track and we got lucky.”

Elnaawi covered the distance over the sloppy going in 1:45.40. He paid $12.20.
 

About Laurel Park

Laurel Park is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida and is one of North America's top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world's largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is also a major producer of televised horse racing programming through its HRTV cable and satellite network and is North America's premier supplier of virtual online horse racing games, as well as a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.