Hello Beautiful was stunning in Md. Million Lassie win
Hello Beautiful and jockey Sheldon Russell were much the best in the Maryland Million Lassie. Photo by Laurie Asseo for The Racing Biz.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Post Time favorite Hello Beautiful (1.70-1) was simply stunning in gate-to-wire fashion to capture the Maryland Million Lassie for her second victory from five career starts, pulling away in the stretch and hitting the wire three and three-quarter-lengths in front of second-choice Stickingtogether (2.00-1). Stickingtogether rallied from mid-pack to claim the runner-up spot, while longshot Worstbestideaever (97-1) came from the clouds to earn the SHOW purse.
Hello Beautiful, a Maryland-bred 2-year-old daughter of Golden Lad, broke alertly and moved quickly under jockey Sheldon Russell to dispute the pace down the backstretch, outside of eventual fourth-place finisher Halfinthewrapper. The winner then asserted herself in upper stretch and drew away under steady handling.
The victory was the first stakes win for trainer Brittany Russell, who is a new mother and wife of winning jockey Sheldon Russell. The couple recently celebrated their first first wedding anniversary, and Sheldon Russell later doubled up with a win aboard Taco Supream in the Maryland Million Sprint.
Hello Beautiful may look to stretch out in December when the Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship is contested at Laurel.
Running time for the six furlongs was 1:10.33.
QUOTABLE
“It’s my first stakes win. To win a stakes here on Maryland Million Day is just super-special. Sheldon rode her; I have my baby (Edy) here. The whole thing is very emotional. It’s exciting…
“We thought she’d be better on the turf based on how she moves in the morning, but she always worked good on the dirt, she always handled it really well. We wanted to come here (MD Million Lassie), we entered in a couple races that didn’t go we went in that allowance race (Sept. 8th; 5 furlongs on the turf in whch she finished second by a neck).”
— Trainer Brittany Russell
“The filly has always flashed speed. We weren’t worried about the outside [No. 12] post today because she always breaks very well. I was happy she broke nicely. I was able to cross over straight away. She just traveled so smoothly. At the top of the stretch, I just waited until she popped over to the right lead. Fair play to her, she was right there when I needed her. Brittany and her team have done a great job. This was always the goal.”
— Jockey Sheldon Russell
FACTS AND FIGURES
- Winner paid: $5.40 – $3.20 – $3.00
- Winning time: 1:10.33
- Margins: Three and three-quarters of a length from Hello Beautiful to Stickingtogether, another two and three-quarter lengths to Worstbestideaever, and another half length back to Halfinthewrapper
- Winner’s record: 5-2-2-1, purse earnings of $79,453
CONNECTIONS
- Owner: Madaket Stables, Albert Frasetto, Mark Parkinson, K-mac Stables, and Magic City Stables
- Breeder: Hillwood Stables, LLC, bred in Maryland
- Pedigree: Golden Lad-Hello Now, by Tiznow
- Trainer: Brittany Russell
- Jockey: Sheldon Russell
HOW WE ‘CAPPED IT
- #3 – Stickingtogether (7-2): Ran two huge races in first two of her career then may not have cared for mud in latest; she gets Lasix for first time which could help revenge loss to #12
- #8 – Gifted Heart (3-1): Personal favorite as her name relates to trainer’s son’s story; only runner to have two wins on resume
- #7 – Halfinthewrapper (12-1): Won second career start in a romp when stepped up in class following runner-up effort in debut; waters get deeper against these gals
IN YOUR STABLE MAIL
Tenth-place finisher Leaky Caulron (44.30-1) was shuffled back at the break when rivals from her left bore out and to her immediate right broke inward, leaving jockey Inoel Beato no choice but to take back. Considering this gal showed early speed in prior races, her race was over just a few strides out of the gate.
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