Sheldon Russell “day to day” after Saturday spill

Journeyman Sheldon Russell took off his mounts Sunday at Laurel Park and is considered “day to day” according to agent Marty Leonard after being unseated at the start of Saturday’s sixth race.

A seven-time meet-leading jockey in Maryland who was the state’s overall champion in 2011, the 34-year-old Russell was shaken up when Raise Your Game, a 3-year-old filly trained by Mike Gorham, stumbled badly one jump out of the starting gate for the six-furlong claiming event and caused Russell to lose his balance.

Tended to on the track before being helped to his feet and into the track ambulance, Russell was replaced on his three remaining mounts, two of which – Full Count Felicia and Prince of Jericho, both trained by his wife, Brittany Russell – went on to win.

Of Russell’s Sunday mounts, The Elkstone Group’s 2-year-old Super Saver homebred It’s Viper ($9.80), trained by Brittany Russell, won a maiden claimer in Race 5 under Jevian Toledo.

Russell was named in one of eight races Monday but has been taken off that mount. He is named in three of nine races Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24, and four of nine races Friday, Nov. 25 at Laurel. A winner of 1,544 career races, Russell went 296 days between races following surgery and rehabilitation for a right foot injury before winning in his July 1 return at Laurel.

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