LAUREL, MD. 01-25-12---Pennies Appeal, who was claimed in December by owner Robert Cole of Rapid Redux fame, surged from fourthplacejust a half-furlong from the finish to win in a blanket finish in today’s eighth race at Laurel Park, a $31,000 allowance.

The winning margin was a nose over Allwewantforxmas, with Promise Me another nose farther back in third. The result was in doubt until the placing judges could review the photo, as each horse pushed a nose in front at some point in the final jumps to the wire.

The 3-year-old daughter of Successful Appeal paid $5.20 and topped a $58 exacta and $214.60 trifecta.

Sheldon Russell was aboard the winner for trainer Howard Wolfendale.

“I didn’t know if we were going to get up but she was certainly rolling the last 10 yards,” Russell said. “I knew it was going to be close. I was on the wrong end of one at Atlantic City so it is nice to win one of these.”

Russell leads the winter jockey standings with 10 victories, despite missing last week due to a riding suspension.