Page 4 - Hybrid Eclipse News Today

Angel Cruz won twice on Saturday’s closing day program to tie his protégé, 19-year-old apprentice Jeiron Barbosa, and share Laurel Park’s fall meet riding title, while Brittany Russell capped her historic year by leading the trainer standings for a third time this year.

Now, the 32-year-old Pennsylvania native is poised to take it one step further. She is not only on the verge of securing her third meet championship at Laurel’s calendar-year ending fall stand but becoming the first woman to finish the year as the state’s leading trainer.

Out of an abundance of caution, as a result of Winter Storm Elliott expected to bring gusty winds, arctic cold and threats of flash freezing to the Mid-Atlantic over the weekend, the Maryland Jockey Club has postponed its Christmastide Stakes Day program.

Armando R can put an exclamation point on what has been an outstanding fall meet for trainer Damon Dilodovico with a third consecutive stakes victory

The Elkstone Group’s Grade 2-placed Hybrid Eclipse, under a patient ride from Sheldon Russell, split horses in midstretch and went on to earn her second stakes win in Maryland this year in Saturday’s $100,000 Thirty Eight Go Go at Laurel Park.

Malibu Beauty, exiting a runner-up finish in the Maryland Million Distaff for a second straight year, chases a fourth career stakes victory

Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and Michael House’s Nest passed her first test against elders with aplomb, posting a 9 3/4-length score in Sunday’s $250,000 Beldame (G2) for fillies and mare at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet.

Nest has proven her superiority amongst a highly competitive division of sophomore fillies all year long. On Sunday, the talented three-time Grade 1-winner will face a new task of taking on older fillies and mares in the 84th running of the Grade 2, $250,000 Beldame at Belmont at the Big A.

Battle Bling captured the $100,000 Twixt, Armando R took the Japan Turf Cup, and Factor It notched the first stakes win for his owner in the Challehon Saturday at Laurel Park.

Live racing, Maryland crabs, gift card giveaways and a PDJF dunk tank on the final Saturday of July at Laurel