Brittany Russell brings quartet to Laurel distaff stakes
The Biz
December 19, 2025
Brittany Russell continues to separate herself atop the Maryland training ranks, and she’ll look to add to that advantage this weekend with multiple live runners in a pair of filly-and-mare stakes.
Russell has already saddled 12 Maryland stakes winners from 37 starts in 2025, double the total of any other trainer on the circuit. Mike Trombetta ranks second with six stakes victories, followed by Gary Capuano with five.
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Russell’s duo in the Carousel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles includes morning line favorite Lute Warm and second choice Complexity Jane.
Complexity Jane (7-2), racing for Golden Lion Racing, seeks a second consecutive stakes win after a dominant 3 ¼-length score in the Thirty Eight Go Go on Nov. 9. The talented but occasionally headstrong filly has shown flashes of brilliance, particularly over the Laurel surface, where she remains unbeaten.
“It was really good,” Russell said of her most recent win. “She came out of it great and has trained really forwardly since. She has her little things about her. Hopefully, if we can keep her feet on the ground and get her in the gate, she’ll run well.”
Russell also saddles Lute Warm for Bridlewood Farm and Madaket Stables. Primarily known for her turf form, Lute Warm returned from a lengthy 328-day layoff to capture a high-level allowance on the grass at Laurel on Nov. 14.
“It was a very minor thing,” Russell said of the layoff. “Unfortunately, it took a lot of time, but I think it was good for her. She’s a very good filly on the grass. The goal here, obviously, will be to get her some black type. She trains well on the dirt in the morning, so you have to see sometimes if that translates to the afternoon.”
Russell also sends out a two-pronged attack in the Politely, a six-furlong dash for Maryland or Virginia-restricted fillies and mares, countering the presence of 3-2 morning-line favorite Takethemoneyhoney.
John Middleton’s Grayson’s Girl, one of Russell’s entrants, has been a model of consistency, never finishing worse than third in nine career starts. The daughter of Golden Lad delivered her biggest performance to date when rallying from off the pace to win the open Safely Kept Stakes for three-year-old fillies on Nov. 29.
“Her running style, it’s what she wants and how she does things,” Russell said. “We know she’ll run her race. I just hope it sets up for her.”
Jevian Toledo will again have the mount on Grayson’s Girl (5-1), while Sheldon Russell, the trainer’s husband, pilots the trainer’s second entrant, Conquerthosewecan (5-1), a stakes-placed homebred for Sycamore Hall Thoroughbreds. Conquerthosewecan exits a solid third-place finish in an open allowance on Nov. 30 and continues to look for a breakthrough effort.
“We’ve thrown her some tests,” Russell said. “She shows up. I guess we’re looking for that kind of breakthrough.”
The Politely honors one of the most accomplished Maryland-breds in history. Bred and raced by Mrs. Richard du Pont’s Sagamore Farm, Politely won 21 of 49 career starts, including 13 stakes, and was inducted into the inaugural Maryland-bred Thoroughbred Hall of Fame class in 2013.
The Carousel is the sixth race on a nine-race program, and the Politely is the seventh. Post time for the card is 12 noon.
STAKES ENTRIES
CAROUSEL STAKES
| Post | Horse | Odds | Jockey | Trainer | Owner |
| 1 | Sultry Lass | 5-1 | Carmouche K | Amoss Thomas | Joel Politi |
| 2 | The Sky Is Falling | 9-2 | Bocachica A | Runco Jeff C | David M. Raim |
| 3 | Late Nite Call | 20-1 | Perez X | Saville Niall | Richard E. Harris |
| 4 | Complexity Jane | 7-2 | Russell S | Russell Brittany T | Golden Lion Racing |
| 5 | Audibly | 30-1 | Chuan M | Perri Gina | 5 Leaf Clover Stables |
| 6 | Di’s Surprise | 15-1 | NO RIDER | McMahon Hugh I | SAB Stable Inc. |
| 7 | Bailintin | 20-1 | Lyapustina T | Sanchez-Salomon Rodolf | High Schticking Thoroughbreds LLC |
| 8 | Secret Journey | 30-1 | Rodriguez Y | O’Callaghan Carl J | Sunny Morning Stables LLC |
| 9 | Lute Warm | 5-2 | Toledo J | Russell Brittany T | Bridlewood Farm and Madaket Stables LLC |
| 10 | Doctor Abbie | 20-1 | Cruz A | Kreiser Timothy C | Bush Racing Stable |
| 11 | Intrepid Mo | 6-1 | Hazlewood Y | Capuano Gary | Paul L. Fowler, Jr. |
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POLITELY STAKES
| Post | Horse | Odds | Jockey | Trainer | Owner |
| 1 | Miss Harriett | 10-1 | Boyce F | McFarlane Brandon | Narrow Leaf Farm |
| 2 | Onyx Ten | 9-2 | Hazlewood Y | Capuano Gary | Frank Sample |
| 3 | Takethemoneyhoney | 3-2 | Ruiz E | Moore Michael M | Kasey K Racing Stable LLC, Michael R. Da |
| 4 | Devil Pays in Gold | 30-1 | NO RIDER | Magee Kieron | Shake and Bake Racing LLC |
| 5 | Grayson’s Girl | 5-1 | Toledo J | Russell Brittany T | John Middleton |
| 6 | Conquerthosewecan | 5-1 | Russell S | Russell Brittany T | Sycamore Hall Thoroughbreds, LLC |
| 7 | Green Eyed Monster | 9-2 | NO RIDER | Robb John J | No Guts No Glory Farm |
| 8 | Itsamonstamash | 20-1 | NO RIDER | Robb John J | No Guts No Glory Farm |
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