Russell, Rodriguez, Euro Stable win meet-end honors
Journalism the 5-1 favorite in Preakness 150 Future Wager Pool

LAUREL, MD – Trainer Gary Capuano wasn’t sure what to expect from Malibu Beauty when the veteran returned from a 134-day layoff in Sunday’s featured eighth race at Laurel Park, a high-level allowance with a $55,000 claiming option for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles.

He got a pacesetting 3 ½ length victory over stablemate – and fellow 7-year-old – Intrepid Dream.

“I put her in here because we needed a race for [Intrepid Dream] too,” Capuano said. “I pushed [Malibu Beauty], and I didn’t think she was fit enough, but she proved me wrong today. She’s tough.”

Malibu Beauty beat the gate under jockey Jean Briceno and made fractions of 25.14 and 49.46 seconds while prompted lightly by Intrepid Dream. Malibu Beauty had her opponents off the bridle after a six-furlong clocking in 1:14.20, floated off the rail in the upper stretch, and sprinted home to prevail in 1:46.98 over the sloppy track.

“I told [Briceno] that she usually comes out of the gate fast,” Capuano added. “I told him to get out of there on the first turn, control it and slow it down, and save as much horse as you can because she’s going to be a bit short. If you can get away with some easy fractions, then you’ve got a chance. She ran huge.”

Malibu Beauty returned $5 to win as the betting favorite. Multiple stakes-winner Call Another Play finished third, 5 ¼ lengths behind the winner. Then came Warrior’s Ransom and Doctor Abbie. Di’s Surprise scratched

The winner is a homebred by Buffum owned by Z W P Stable and Non Stop Stable. Foaled in Maryland, Malibu Beauty was a $45,000 RNA as a yearling, and is the sixth blacktype earner produced by her dam, the Malibu Moon mare Slow and Steady.

Malibu Beauty is as versatile as she is hearty, with victories at distances ranging from six furlongs to 1 1/8 miles. She has posed for 13 win photos from 43 starts for lifetime earnings of $819,339. A four-time stakes winner, Malibu Beauty is Delaware-certified and thus has plenty of rich options in the Mid-Atlantic region.

“It [depends] on what comes up,” Capuano concluded. “She’s such a good filly. We give her time off [and she comes back]. She’s fun to train. She does what you want. She’s fast. She keeps herself happy.”

*Russell, Rodriguez, Euro Stable win meet-end honors

Brittany Russell secured her sixth Maryland Jockey Club meet training title, besting Jamie Ness by a margin of 16 to 11.

In 2023, Russell ended Claudio Gonazlez’s six-year reign atop the year-end leaderboard by notching 118 victories at Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, finishing five ahead of runner-up Ness.

Last year, Russell earned 113 victories at Laurel and Pimlico, 16 more than runner-up Ness.

Married to jockey Sheldon Russell, Brittany Russell is often joined in the winner’s circle by their daughter, Edy, and son, Rye.

Russell’s stable star is undoubtedly Post Time. Owned by Mrs. Ellen Charles’s Hillwood Stable, Post Time returned to the races earlier this week, dominating a high-level allowance race at Laurel.

Post Time might make his next start in the Grade 1, $1,000,000 Metropolitan Handicap at Saratoga on June 7.

Jaime Rodriguez earned his seventh Maryland Jockey Club riding title, edging out Mychel Sanchez and Sheldon Russell 14 to 11.

A 34-year-old native of Puerto Rico, Rodriguez won the year-end riding title in Maryland in 2023 and 2024.

Rodriguez attended the famed Escuela Vocacional Hipica in Puerto Rico and rode his first domestic winner on May 5, 2010, when East of Eden prevailed at Belmont Park.

Rodriguez enjoyed a career year in 2024, setting lifetime marks in mounts (1,199), wins (272), seconds (210), thirds (190), and earnings ($9,538,475). He placed fourth in the nation in victories and 23rd in purse money. It was the third consecutive season that Rodriguez rode over 200 winners.

Euro Stable led all owners with five wins, one better than the partnership of Madison Avenue Racing Stable, Morris Kernan Jr, and Jagger Inc.

*Journalism favored in Preakness 150 Future Wager Pool

Kentucky Derby runner-up Journalism is the 5 to 1 favorite in the Preakness 150 Future Wager Pool.

The Preakness 150 Future Wager attracted $348,245 in wagers with Derby winner Sovereignty the eighth choice at 19-1.

Here is the complete field with final odds:

1. Admiral Dennis (60-1)
2. Admire Daytona (60-1)
3. American Promise (15-1)
4. Baeza (14-1)
5. Bracket Buster (60-1)
6. Built (80-1)
7. Burnham Square (30-1)
8. Caldera (24-1)
9. California Burrito (60-1)
10. Captain Cook (80-1)
11. Chunk of Gold (45-1)
12. Citizen Bull (18-1)
13. Clever Again (15-1)
14. Coal Battle (40-1)
15. Cornucopian (SCR)
16. East Avenue (50-1)
17. Final Gambit (35-1)
18. Flying Mohawk (70-1)
19. Gosger (35-1)
20. Grande (40-1)
21. Heart of Honor (50-1)
22. Hill Road (70-1)
23. Instant Replay (50-1)
24. Journalism (5-1)
25. Luxor Café (25-1)
26. Madaket Road (99-1)
27. Neoequos (99-1)
28. Owen Almighty (80-1)
29. Pay Billy (45-1)
30. Poster (SCR)
31. Publisher (50-1)
32. Render Judgment (50-1)
33. River Thames (25-1)
34. Rodriguez (11-1)
35. Sandman (14-1)
36. Sovereignty (19-1)
37. Tappan Street (SCR)
38. Tiztastic (35-1)
39. Voldemort (80-1)
40. All Other Three Year Olds (22-1)

*Around the track:

Brittany Russell and jockey Jevian Toledo teamed up for three winners on the Sunday program, including impressive first-time starter Lionel. An $875,000 colt by Authentic out of multiple Grade 2-placed Sweetgrass, Lionel was originally conditioned by Bob Baffert in Southern California. “He’s been really straightforward,” Russell said about Lionel after stablemate Derbyness won Friday’s feature. “I haven’t had him very long, but he came right in, went to work and breezed really good. I think Bob has him ready”…Live racing resumes at Pimlico on Friday. The first post time is 12:10 ET…The National Thoroughbred League (NTL) season begins at Pimlico on Saturday. The NTL is an innovative concept that reimagines America’s oldest spectator sport by creating a team-based professional league. This format allows fans to root for their favorite teams. The NTL is also a lifestyle brand, with food, fashion, and fun events akin to the Kentucky Derby or a significant Formula 1 race. On Saturday, Pimlico presents the NTL team series races and meet-and-greet photo opportunities with two-time NFL MVP – and Maryland Colts lead owner - Lamar Jackson, jockeys, and other celebrities. Gates open at 11:00 a.m. ET, with the first post time at 12:10 p.m. ET…Pimlico hosts the popular “Mother’s Day at the Races” on Sunday between 11 am and 3 pm. For tickets and more information, click here.