Three-year-old Balboa, based at Laurel Park with trainer Brittany Russell, will seek Kentucky Derby points in next Saturday’s Gotham.
Making just his second career start, Taj Mahal outgamed Let’s Go Lando to win Laurel’s Miracle Wood Stakes as the Russell barn swept two stakes.
Law School and Taj Mahal could be favored in Saturday’s Laurel stakes, but they arrive with very different resumes, plus stakes notes.
It took a while to get Taj Mahal to the races, but the wait was worth it, as the $525,000 yearling romped home Friday at Laurel Park.
Apprentice rider Yedsit Hazlewood and trainer Brittany Russell easily earned their respective titles during the Laurel Park fall meet.
The Brittany Russell-trained James F. Lewis, III Stakes winner Balboa, recently third in the G2 Remsen, will try his luck in the Jerome at the Big A Jan. 3.
Upsets were the order of the day in a pair of Laurel Park juvenile stakes, with Hollywood Import and Peach Tie winning the Heft and Gin Talking.
Multiple graded stakes winner Post Time won Saturday’s Manfuso Stakes at Laurel Park to head to retirement with one last triumph, his 13th.
Debut turf winner Spidey Man made a smooth switch to dirt to win an allowance/optional claimer Friday at Laurel Park.
Onetime mid-priced claimer Zero Blitz stormed home in the final furlong to upset Saturday’s City of Laurel Stakes, and Grayson’s Girl also scored.