Doc’s Miracle Continues Ascent in Smart Halo Stakes
LAUREL, MD—Balboa was ready from the opening bell in Saturday’s $100,000 James F. Lewis Stakes for 2-year-olds racing six furlongs at Laurel Park.
The Not This Time colt showed good speed from the gate under jockey Sheldon Russell, sparred with Max Capacity through a quick opening quarter of 22.04, jabbed his way to the front after a 46.04 half-mile clocking, then knocked out the field with a strong final quarter.
It was a lovely run and far from a rocky trip.
Balboa streaked under the wire 5 ¼ lengths better than late-running Hollywood Import, who was 2 ¼ lengths clear of Gurney Halleck. Lundi Loot, Channel the Music, Max Capacity, Sometime, Star Sweeper, Wildncrazyguy, and Springhawk completed the order of finish.
There was a slight delay before the start as jockey Angel Cruz was shaken up after Star Sweeper reared in the starting gate. Carlos Lopez replaced Cruz, who escaped serious injury, and is expected to ride on Sunday.
Favored Balboa finished in 1:11.87 over the sealed, muddy track, and returned $4.20 to win. Maryland Million Nursery winner Big Cuddle scratched.
Balboa was Russell’s first of two winners on the program, and the second of three winners saddled by his wife, leading trainer Brittany Russell, who took over Balboa’s training last month after the colt made his first four starts in Southern California for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert.
“He’s got good gate speed and had a good outside post,” Sheldon Russell said. “He broke good enough where I could use him and cross over, and just save some. When he jumped on the right lead, he really came home nicely. I pushed him a little bit, and then I grabbed him, and he got in that happy gear, and I felt like he could keep going. He doesn’t really feel like he’s going that fast, so I was surprised to see 22 flat.”
Brittany Russell equipped Balboa with blinkers for his most recent workout. Suitably impressed by the half-mile breeze, she raced Balboa in the headgear this afternoon.
“I don’t think it’s all clicked,” she said. “As long as I’ve had him, he’s done things well, but he’s still a big baby in my eyes.”
Bred in Kentucky by Albaugh Family Stables, Balboa is a bay son of Not This Time out of Tap of War, a War Front full sister to Grade 1 turf winner Halladay. His second dam, Hightap, captured two Grade 3 dirt races.
Balboa sold for $875,000 as a yearling and races for SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital LLC, and Catherine Donovan.
After finishing third behind stablemate Brant in his career debut at Del Mar on July 26, Balboa then graduated by 7 ¾ lengths in a maiden special weight there 15 days later.
Balboa then faced top competition in his last two starts, finishing fifth in both the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity and Santa Anita’s Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes.
“When they come from Bob, and we try them here, it’s easier than what he’s been running against, obviously,” said Brittany Russell. “Still, he had to put his running shoes today and do the job. The way he did it, that’s what you need to see.”
“Impressive,” Sheldon Russell concluded. “Brittany and Bob had this horse ready. I just steered him today.”
*Doc’s Miracle continues ascent in Smart Halo Stakes
Doc’s Miracle became the first stakes winner for her sire, Long River, after she rallied from off the pace under teenage apprentice rider Yedsit Hazlewood to take the $100,000 Smart Halo Stakes for juvenile fillies at six furlongs.
Conditioned by Gary Capuano, Doc’s Miracle returned $11.80 as the public’s third choice.
Foaled in Maryland, Doc’s Miracle is a homebred owned by Daniel Crowley and Non Stop Stable.
A son of A.P. Indy and Breeders’ Cup Distaff heroine Round Pond, Long River was a multiple stakes-winner in North America, and a Grade 1 winner in Dubai. Doc’s Miracle’s dam, the stakes-placed Hailey’s Flip, won seven of 29 starts and earned $381,227 racing for Crowley and Capuano.
Doc’s Miracle is a half-sister to stakes-placed dirt sprinter Haileysfirstnotion. Their second dam, Tamberino, was a stakes-winning dirt sprinter.
The pace was solid in the Smart Halo as Prosecco Rita carved out splits of 22.21 and 45.77 seconds. Favored Just Philtored made a bid on the turn, but was turned away by the early leader as the field swung into the stretch. Prosecco Rita tried hard, but Doc’s Miracle had outside momentum, and Hazlewood guided his mount home three-quarters of a length in front in 1:12.14.
Just Philtored was third, 3 ¾ lengths behind the runner-up. Next came Tipmanee, who acted up badly before the start, and Hollen Drive. Sweet Shenanigans, Wesawtaylorinparis, Beach Heist, and Slewperstitus withdrew.
“It looked like [Just Philtored] and [Prosecco Rita] were going to go out there,” Capuano said. “We had a good post from the outside. I told [Hazlewood] to let them go, get to the outside, and hopefully be good enough to run them down.”
It’s been a remarkable run for both Capuano and Hazlewood in 2025. The trainer has dominated 2-year-old racing in the Mid-Atlantic region with 18 juvenile victories. Hazlewood notched four winners on his first-ever Jim McKay Maryland Million card, and repeated the feat on Nov. 1.
“The trainer told me to stay back and, in the stretch, we can go,” Hazlewood said. “The trainer is really good.”
Doc’s Miracle has raced eight times this year. She received an excellent confidence builder when dropped into a $50,000 maiden claimer at Timonium on Aug. 23, winning the 6 ½-furlong, two-turn heat by 6 ¼ lengths.
Since that start, Doc’s Miracle has steadily improved. She finished second in Delaware’s restricted Small Wonder Stakes on Sept. 14, then placed a game second to Slewperstitus in the restricted Maryland Million Lassie. In the latter race, Doc’s Miracle battled for the lead with a couple of pace rivals before grudgingly yielding to the favored winner.
“She’s really solid and never misses a beat,” Capuano said. “As long as she’s happy and ready to go, we’ll do it for a little bit, but we’ll give her a break sooner or later.
*Around the track:
Since the Fall Meeting began on Sept. 5, Laurel Park led the nation in the number of turf races offered with 120…Live racing resumes on Sunday with a 10-race program. The first post time is 12:00 p.m. ET, and there are two “Value Pick 5” wagers, each with a low 12% takeout rate…The FREE “Laurel Park Handicapping Guide” is available every racing day. See picks, a full-card analysis, trainer stats, trip notes, horses to watch, track bias information, and lots more from The Maryland Jockey Club’s team of analysts. Sunday’s Guide can be found here: click here to view…Reserve your spot for our weekly “Bubbly Brunch Sundays”. Kick back with friends over delicious brunch favorites and bottomless mimosas in our vibrant Stone Bar Restaurant and Bar. Sunday Brunch begins at 11:00 am ET…Don’t miss a second of the action with the Laurel Park YouTube channel. Click here to catch full pan and head-on replays.
