Miami Thunderbolts take National Thoroughbred League Opener

LAUREL, MD—Two years after Catalytic finished nineteenth of twenty in the 2024 Kentucky Derby, the 5-year-old son of Catalina Cruiser reached the winner’s circle on the first Saturday in May in the featured seventh race at Laurel Park, a $56,000 allowance race for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles.

Making his first start for trainer Brittany Russell after racing 15 times for Antonio Sano, the handsome bay horse tracked J D Factor from the outside through fractions of 23.84 and 47.58 seconds.

Jockey Sheldon Russell pushed the button after six furlongs in 1:12.34, and Catalytic responded. He forged past J D Factor and drew off to win by 3 ½ lengths in 1:44.13 on the fast main track.

Favored Worcester rallied for second, a head better than National Law. J D Factor faded to fourth. He was followed by Union Fleet, Irish Cork, Freedom Road, and Crossland.

Catalytic, the fourth betting choice, paid $9.40 to win.

“He's really pretty,” Brittany Russell said. “He's pretty cool, too. It took us a little bit of time to get to know him. Sheldon breezed him in the morning [for] his last work, and I think it was a good thing because he had an idea how to ride him today."

Catalytic began his career with a bang, winning his only start at age two by 5 ½ lengths. Two starts later, he finished a well-beaten second in the Grade 1 Florida Derby, a race that propelled him under the Twin Spires at Churchill Downs.

Catalytic, owned by Tami Bobo, just missed in his first start after the Derby, finishing second in the $75,000 Carry Back Stakes at Gulfstream. A two-time winner last year, Catalytic recently raced in tough company. His three starts prior to today’s run came against Grade 3 competition, and Brittany Russell feels today’s class relief helped Catalytic take a step in the right direction.

“Obviously, he’s a good horse,” she said. “He has some back class, and he’s been running in some tough spots, so I was grateful that they let us get him going in this spot. Hopefully, this will pick his head up, right?”

Brittany Russell is impressed by Catalytic’s blend of speed and stamina.

"Sheldon says it looks like he goes early, but he has such a big stride, you have to use it,” she said.

Catalytic sold for $70,000 as a weanling and for $125,000 as a yearling. His female family includes quality names such as Grade 1 winners Bluegrass Cat and Girolamo.

He has won four of 17 starts, earning $397,185.

One day after Brittany Russell saddled Dazzling Dame to an eighth-place finish in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, she teamed up with her husband, Sheldon, to win two races on the Laurel card, with Vanilla returning $3.80 in the fourth race.

Brittany Russell called it an “unbelievable” experience at Churchill. “It was awesome,” she said. “That’s a lot to ask. Those are the 14 best [3-year-old fillies]. I’m proud of her.”

Her upcoming major goal is the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown, scheduled at Laurel Park in two weeks. Her contender, the undefeated Taj Mahal, breezed this morning with exercise rider Alex Beitea.

“I worked him by himself, and I don’t often do that,” she said. “He still went 47 and change. Alex said he was doing his thing. I just told him to have a happy half-mile.”

Taj Mahal is scheduled for one more workout before the Preakness.

*Miami Thunderbolts take National Thoroughbred League Opener

The Miami Thunderbolts defeated the defending champions, the New York Knights, in the opening event of the 2026 National Thoroughbred League (NTLC) season.

The NTL, now in its fourth year, is a first-of-a-kind racing league that reimagines America’s oldest spectator sport as a team-based professional league.

By prioritizing industry participation, equine safety, and consistent, high-level competition, NTL gives fans the opportunity to follow and support celebrated horses and jockeys month after month and year after year.

Beyond the track, NTL delivers a modern lifestyle experience, curating weekends of food, fashion, and entertainment inspired by the sport’s most iconic celebrations.

Saturday’s racing kicked off a six-event national season, with teams competing across the country for a league championship.

Saturday’s three NTL races (Races 5-7) offered a combined purse of $98,000. All ten teams entered at least two horses in each race.

The Knights got on the board right away, as Be Better rallied from outside to win the fifth race for trainer Ferris Allen and jockey Martin Chuan.

Carrying the banner of the Thunderbolts, Summer Vibes made a late run from the outside to win the sixth race for Anthony Farrior and Jevian Toledo.

The Thunderbolts clinched their victory thanks to Catalytic, while the Knights finished second in the overall standings.

The NTL event on Saturday was hosted by NFL superstar Lamar Jackson, the celebrity owner of the Maryland Colts franchise. Jackson, the Baltimore Ravens quarterback and a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player, was accompanied by members of his Forever Dreamers Foundation. They cheered the Colts to a third-place finish.

*Around the track:

Jockey Forest Boyce rode two turf winners on Saturday. She wired the field in the opening race aboard The Money Monkey ($27) for trainer Madison Meyers, then squeezed through the gap between horses to win the eighth race aboard Mopo ($5.80) for trainer Phil Capuano.

Jevian Toledo also rode two winners. The veteran piloted Summer Vibes ($5.20) in one of the NTL events and Lifting ($5) in the finale.

Live racing resumes on Sunday for an eight-race card with two “Value Pick 5” wagers, each offering a low 12% takeout rate.

The free “Laurel Park Handicapping Guide” is available on every race day. It provides picks, analysis, trainer stats, trip notes, horses to watch, track bias info, and more from The Maryland Jockey Club’s team of handicappers. Sunday’s guide is available. Click here to view it.

Reserve your spot for our weekly “Bubbly Brunch Sundays.” Relax with friends over delicious brunch favorites and bottomless mimosas at our vibrant Stone Bar Restaurant and Bar. Sunday Brunch starts at 11:00 am ET. Learn more here.

Give Mom a gift she’ll never forget with our Mother’s Day at the Races on Sunday, May 10. The gates open at 11 am for an all-inclusive brunch experience. Learn more here.

Never miss a second of the action on the Laurel Park YouTube channel. Click here to watch full pan and head-on replays.

Watch “Today at the Races,” the Maryland Jockey Club’s morning handicapping show every racing day at 11 am ET on the Maryland Jockey Club X account. Click here to watch.