Improbable filly won third consecutive start
LAUREL, MD — Earlier in the week, trainer Brittany Russell spoke highly of Maida, one of two runners she prepared for Saturday’s $100,000 Weather Vane Stakes for 3-year-old fillies racing six furlongs at Laurel Park.
“We think a lot of her,” Russell said. “She’s acted like she’s something good from the beginning.”
Maida’s rise continued as she dominated the Weather Vane from start to finish under jockey Sheldon Russell.
Making her stakes debut, Maida had no problems making the early lead despite bobbling at the start, ripped off fractions of 22.55 and 45.38 seconds, then strutted home to score by eight lengths in 1:09.63 over the fast track.
Multiple stakes-winner G W’s Girl chased Maida all the way around the track. Russell’s other filly, Conquerthosewecan, finished six lengths behind that runner-up in third. Stakes-winners Burner Account and Social Fortress completed the order of finish.
Maida returned $6 as the second choice in the betting. Safe Trust, Volleyballprincess, and Endorse scratched.
“This filly was so quick off the blocks, nobody was going to go with her,” Brittany Russell said in the winner’s circle. “Everybody’s been so high on her. I’ve watched her breeze, and I thought everything she’s done has been pretty special. But, they have to do it in the afternoon, right? She appears to be improving.”
Maida races with cotton in her ears.
“She used to be pretty difficult at the gate,” Russell mentioned. “She’s really classy now since she’s started racing. But that’s one thing I’m not going to change. She’ll keep the cotton.”
“I usually turn her away from the pony, and she’s a lovely galloper,” Sheldon Russell added. “We just try to keep her relaxed in the post parade. She dragged me to the lead, traveled beautiful. She’s got a high cruising speed.”
An Improbable half-sister to stakes-placed dirt sprinter I’m Patriotic out of Grade 3 winner Eve Giselle, Maida is a homebred owned by Harry Papaleo’s Goodfella’s LLC.
After finishing fourth in her career debut, Maida was equipped with blinkers, and she’s won her subsequent three starts by a combined 21 ½ lengths.
“As she’s got a few races under her belt, she’s improved,” Sheldon Russell said. “She’s got a lot stronger. She’s always trained good in the morning, but she’s really starting to put it together. Today, she was lights out.”
Maida has earned $118,150 and might head out of town for her next race. Russell mentioned Keeneland’s Grade 2 Lexus Run Raven Stakes, a seven-furlong heat for 3-year-old fillies on October 18, as a potential short-term goal for Maida.
