Yedsit Hazlewood wins three more races

LAUREL, MD—“She likes this track,” jockey Jevian Toledo told trainer Brittany Russell after Grayson’s Girl rallied to win Sunday’s eighth race at Laurel Park, a $53,000 allowance for fillies and mares at six furlongs.

The Laurel Park main track was soaked by rain all day, but that didn’t faze Grayson’s Girl, who won her maiden by eight lengths on a similar sealed, sloppy surface last year.

Grayson’s Girl likes to rally from off the pace, but she remained relatively close to the leaders, racing outside and a couple of lengths off the lead in the second flight of runners.

Itsamonstamash, Spencerian, and I’m a Cutie Pie dictated terms through an opening quarter mile in 23.50 seconds, and I’m a Cutie Pie surged with a three-wide bid to make a brief lead on the turn.

Toledo never gave that rival a chance to breathe, however, as Grayson’s Girl latched onto I’m a Cutie Pie’s outer flank after a half-mile run in 47.94 seconds.

Grayson’s Girl took the lead at the three-sixteenths marker and drove home 4 ¼ lengths ahead of I’m a Cutie Pie. Tap Dancin Cowgirl was third, three-quarters of a length behind the runner-up. Spencerian and Itsamonstamash rounded out the order of finish.

Grayson’s Girl paid $6.20 as the second choice. Kilo Road scratched out.

“That was great,” Russell said. “It was nice to use the [second-level] condition today. [Toledo] shook her out of there a little, then made her sit right there. I felt like she traveled with confidence.”

Bred in Maryland by Matt Dorman’s 2500 Determined Stable and purchased by John Middleton for $50,000 as a yearling, Grayson’s Girl is by Gift Box out of Drinking Dixie, a Quality Road mare stakes-placed at one mile on dirt at Prairie Meadows. The second dam, Made Up, earned two stakes placings on dirt.

Grayson’s Girl’s signature victory to date came in last fall’s Safely Kept Stakes, a seven-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies. Three weeks after that victory, Grayson’s Girl concluded her sophomore campaign with a fifth-place finish in the restricted Politely Stakes.

“I think I ran her back a little too quickly,” Russell said about the Politely. “She’s a pretty tough, gritty little filly.”

Grayson’s Girl has a record of four wins in 11 starts, earning $221,250.

*Yedsit Hazlewood wins three more races

Yedsit Hazlewood, the runner-up in the 2025 Eclipse Award voting for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey, continued his hot run at Laurel Park, winning three more races on Sunday.

Hazlewood has won 17 races from 48 starts at Laurel Park since the February 12 card. He notched three races that afternoon, followed by another triple on February 14, and then earned another hat trick the following afternoon.

Hazlewood, who turns 18 on March 10, grabbed the opener aboard trainer Hugh McMahon’s Tuff Luck ($3.80), rallied from off the pace to win the seventh aboard Phlying Phyllis ($5) for trainer Gary Capuano, then took the finale in front-running fashion aboard Phil Capuano’s Kittyup ($6.60).

A native of Panama, Hazlewood was Maryland's top rider by races won in 2025. He currently leads the winter meet standings with 29 victories, 15 more than Angel Cruz.

*Around the track:

Jockey Carlos Lopez secured consecutive wins on Sunday. He quickly had Galpin Sunday ($5.60) in front in the fourth race for trainer Lacey Gaudet, then settled just off the early pace with pace-prompting Flirty Bajan ($4) in the fifth for trainer Henry Walters.

Live racing resumes Friday. The first post for the eight-race program is at 12:00 pm ET, with two “Value Pick 5” wagers, each with a low 12% takeout.

The FREE “Laurel Park Handicapping Guide” is available every racing day. Get picks, analysis, trainer stats, trip notes, horses to watch, track bias information, and more from The Maryland Jockey Club’s team of handicappers. Friday’s guide is available Thursday evening. Click here to view it.

Celebrate the Lunar New Year at Laurel Park on Saturday, February 28. It’s the “Year of the Fire Horse,” and we’ll honor the day’s spirit with special food and drink, including Prosperity Dumplings, Longevity Noodles, and Fire Horse-Inspired Cocktails. There will be giveaways and fun for the whole family. Learn more here.

Reserve your spot for our weekly “Bubbly Brunch Sundays.” Kick back 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.

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