In a race that projected to have plenty of early pace, Maida stood alone.

Three-year-old Maida made virtually every step a winning one in Saturday’s $100,000 Weather Vane Stakes at Laurel Park, widening her advantage at every call en route to an eight-length triumph.

A homebred for Harry Papaleo’s Goodfellas LLC, Maida earned her first stakes win and third victory overall from four career starts. She bolstered her bankroll to nearly $120,000.

“Everybody’s been high on her,” said winning trainer Brittany Russell. “I’ve watched her breeze, and I thought everything she’s done has been pretty special. But they have to do it in the afternoons, right?”

They do, and so far, Maida has. The Improbable filly was fourth on the Pimlico mud in her debut but hasn’t missed a beat since, winning three straight and all with ease. Her combined margin of victory is more than 21 lengths.

Maida wasn’t the quickest away from the gate this afternoon but quickly asserted herself, clearing to the lead while under a hold by rider Sheldon Russell. She doled out an opener in 22.55 seconds while owning a two-length lead, with G W’s Girl, off as the 7-5 favorite, her nearest pursuer.

“Honestly, on paper, I mean, it looked like it could have been a lot [of speed],” Russell pointed out. “But this filly was so quick off the blocks, there was nobody was gonna go with her.”

The margin was 2 ½ lengths after a half-mile in 45.38 seconds, and Maida widened through the lane. The final margin was eight lengths, and the running time for six furlongs on a fast main track was a sharp 1:09.63.

G W’s Girl, the Greg Compton-trained multiple stakes winner held second, six lengths ahead of Conquerthosewecan, also from the Brittany Russell barn. Longshot Burner Account and comebacking Social Fortress completed the order of finish. Endorse, Safe Trust, and Volleyballprincess were scratched.

Maida paid $6.00 to win, and the exacta returned $5.80.

Russell said that she would “see how she comes out of it” before determining a next move with Maida but that a trip to Keeneland would be on the radar screen. The Grade 2 Raven Run, a seven-furlong test for sophomore fillies, is October 18.

It was the second stakes win in as many days for the Russell barn. Friday evening she sent out C’Mon Eileen to an easy win in the John McKee Memorial for two-year-old West Virginia-bred fillies at Charles Town Races.

“We bought a West Virginia-bred, and I guess we got lucky,” Russell laughed.