Hazlewood’s streak reaches 20
LAUREL, MD—With 12 minutes to post before Friday’s featured fourth race at Laurel Park, a first-level allowance with a $62,500 to $50,000 claiming option for 2-year-olds racing six furlongs, trainer Brittany Russell cautiously peered around the corner of the paddock.
“Is he on the track yet?” Russell asked bystanders. “He’s got those Spidey moves.”
Russell had reason to be apprehensive. After all, the obstinate Spidey Man threw a fit behind the starting gate before a scheduled start on Oct. 26, necessitating a late scratch. That day, he acted more like the Vulture, or Doctor Octopus, or Kraven the Hunter, than a friendly neighborhood webslinger.
This afternoon, Spidey Man bucked a few times under jockey Sheldon Russell during the post parade, but he did march into the starting gate without much fuss.
There was activity at the break as Spidey Man collided with a quick-breaking Bonsai Warrior, who sliced his way to the lead through an opening quarter in 22.55 seconds. Unfazed by the contact, Spidey Man dusted himself off and procured a prime pace-prompting position while traveling very comfortably.
Spidey Man confronted Bonsai Warrior after a half-mile in 46.25, webbed that foe to the three-sixteenths pole, then swung home a half-length better than a wide-rallying Ihaveanappforthat. Lundi Loot was another neck back in third. Prince of Darkness and Bonsai Warrior completed the order of finish. Skillian and Biker Baley scratched.
Spidey Man wasn’t necessarily Amazing nor Spectacular, for that matter, but he got the job done in 1:13.04 over the fast going. He returned $3.80 as the betting favorite.
“He’s just ornery,” Brittany Russell said. “I thought about training him this morning, [but] he’s the kind of horse that you want on his tiptoes like that. You want him to do things right.”
“I feel better now,” said Sheldon Russell, who was shaken up last Sunday after being thrown from his mount following the opening race.
“The worst part is he’s trying to drop you in the post parade,” Brittany replied.
Spidey Man was bred in Maryland by The Stables of Mezza Luna LLC. A son of Maximus Mischief out of unraced Applaud, by Medaglia d’Oro, from the family of European champion Hold That Tiger and Belmont Stakes winner Editor’s Note, Spidey Man was purchased for $35,000 as a yearling.
Campaigned by Cash is King LLC and LC Racing LLC, Spidey Man debuted on the turf at Colonial Downs on Sept. 13, pressed the early pace, and surged home to score by a half-length.
Then came the Oct. 26 setback.
“It’s weird. We’ve always liked him,” Sheldon admitted. “Maybe he had a bad day [when he scratched]. He’s such a good-feeling horse. That day, once we put the tack on, he was playing in the paddock. Then we brought him out here, and I didn’t see the same energy.”
“He had cement blocks on his feet that day,” Brittney added. “He didn’t want to pick his feet up. At the end of the day, I’m glad we took a step back and regrouped because I think he’s a better horse from it now.”
*Hazlewood’s streak reaches 20
It took until the last race, but Yedsit Hazlewood’s daily winning streak at Laurel Park remains intact.
Hazlewood, 17, a leading candidate for the 2025 Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey, captured the Friday finale aboard Pudge Boy Palace ($6.60).
Trained by Hazlewood’s mentor, Jose Corrales, Pudge Boy Palace settled off the pace, then came with a determined rally to kick down The Wolfman.
With the victory, Hazlewood has ridden at least one winner on each of the last 20 racing dates at Laurel Park.
A native of Panama, Hazlewood holds a comfortable lead in the current Laurel Park jockey standings. Heading into Saturday’s card, Hazlewood has 57 winners at the meet, 24 more than Jorge Ruiz.
Hazlewood rode his first career winner on Oct. 4 and now has 111 victories from 505 mounts, including five stakes scores. His mounts have earned $3,743,662.
*Around the track:
The trainer-jockey combination of Jamie Ness and Martin Chuan accounted for two wins on the Friday program, both in front-running fashion. Feeling Woozy ($7.80) dropped in class to secure the second race while Concrete Faze ($4.20) stretched out in distance in the seventh. Ness currently leads the nation in wins this year with 336, 22 more than Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen…Live racing resumes Saturday with a nine-race program…The first post time is 12 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. Get picks, analysis, trainer stats, horses to watch, track bias information, and much more from The Maryland Jockey Club team of handicappers. Saturday’s Guide is online: 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…Never miss a second of the action with the Laurel Park YouTube channel. Click here to catch full pan and head-on replays.
