Share Success a professional debut winner
Trainer Joan Reynolds earns 400th career victory

LAUREL, MD—Ultimate Love had her game face on as she left the paddock before Friday’s feature at Laurel Park, a first-level allowance for juvenile fillies at one mile on the turf.

Ears pricked at attention, she seemed fully aware of the task at hand, and ran to her disposition, drawing off under jockey Horacio Karamanos to best favored Ixchel by 6 ¾ lengths in 1:36.83 over the firm course.

“Karamanos had never seen her before, and I told him you could take her out of there like she’s an old horse,” said trainer Mike Trombetta, who saddled three winners on the Opening Day program. “Do whatever you need to do, let her warm up off the pony. There are a couple of horses coming in here off of sprints. It’s going to be a lively pace. Just relax.”

Trombetta’s assessment was accurate as Law School and Dale’s Bluff dueled through a quick opening quarter in 23.66 seconds. Dale’s Bluff was relentless in her quest for the lead and opened a three-length lead on her pace rival after a half-mile clocking in 47.74.

Meanwhile, Karamanos split rivals entering the second turn and angled into excellent pocket position. He eased off the rail to challenge the leader turning for home, and the race was soon over.

“Professional,” Karamanos told Trombetta as they guided Ultimate Love to the winner’s circle.

A chestnut homebred daughter of Curlin owned by Live Oak Plantation, Ultimate Love is from a phenomenal female family. Her second dam is millionaire My Typhoon, herself a half-sister to Group 1 winners Galileo, Sea the Stars, and Black Sam Bellamy.

Ultimate Love made her debut in a one-mile maiden special weight at Colonial on July 24. She settled off the pace that day before rallying to win by 2 ¾ lengths.

“I didn’t know how she would do on the turf,” Trombetta admitted. “From when we ran her on it the first time at Colonial, all the feedback was good, so here we are again. Curlin will get you dirt. The dam-side is more turf. What I like about this filly is that I think she’s going to be a mile-and-an-eighth, mile-and-a-quarter type of filly.”

Trombetta mentioned Laurel’s $125,000 Selima Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf on September 27 as a potential next race for Ultimate Love.

*Share Success a professional debut winner

Speaking of positive body language, Share Success looked a picture on the walk-over before the sixth race, a maiden special weight for Maryland-bred or -sired juvenile fillies at five furlongs.

While some of her rivals exhibited immature behavior, bucking and squealing at the crowd assembled at the paddock, Share Success was calm, cool and collected.

Sent away a slight 2-1 favorite in the six-horse field, Share Success blasted to the lead under jockey Jevian Toledo, took heavy pace pressure from Trombetta’s As the Bell Toles, dismissed that rival turning into the stretch, then scampered home to win by 4 ¾ lengths in 59.43 over the fast main track.

“She’s grown up a lot since she came down here,” said winning trainer Brittany Russell. “Her works have gotten more professional. She’s been pretty cool, pretty straightforward.”

Russell expected Share Success to show good speed.

“That’s what you got to do at five-eighths,” Russell said. “I was a little worried about the five-eighths,” Russell said. “But she’s been good in the mornings. Honestly, I wanted to debut her at three-quarters.”

Share Success is the second winner sired by first-crop stallion Engage, a Grade 2-winning sprinter by Into Mischief. Engage stands at Northview Stallion Station in Maryland.

Bred by Sycamore Hall Thorougbhreds, Share Success is the first foal out of juvenile stakes-winning dirt sprinter Stickingtogether, herself a half-sister to multiple stakes-winning turf router Giant Run, stakes-winning dirt router American Victory, and Grade 3-placed turf router Who’s Cozy.

Their second dam, Who Did It and Run, beat males in the Grade 2 Jersey Derby on turf, and earned triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures on both dirt and turf.

Share Success sold for $115,000 as a yearling, and races for Cash Is King LLC and LC Racing.

“I’ve had horses for them in the past, and then we took a little break,” Russell said about the ownership group. “Chuck [Zacney] will always send me something randomly. For me, it’s full circle because Sycamore Hall bred her. I’m a big supporter of them because they support me. Hopefully, she goes on and she’s a nice filly moving forward.”

*Trainer Joan Reynolds earns 400th career victory

Charles Town-based trainer Joan Reynolds notched her 400th career victory when 4-year-old filly Monster Summer ($52.20) upset the fourth race, a $12,500 optional claimer for fillies and mares at 5 ½ furlongs on turf.

Reynolds earned her first win at Charles Town on April 14, 2002, when Cowboy Kyle captured a $3,500 claiming race at 25-1 odds. The stable’s best year came in 2014 when Reynolds-trained runners won 36 races.

In 2025, Reynolds currently boasts a record of 10 wins from 42 starters for earnings of $138,090. Lifetime, the barn has earned $6,075,941.

*Around the track:

Trombetta’s other two winners on the card were Souper Crunchy ($3; second race) and Stewball ($9; eighth race)…Toledo also had three winners on the program as he booted home Share Success, Stewball and Strategist ($3; third race)…Trombetta mentioned that his star turf sprinter, Future Is Now, will likely point to Keeneland’s Grade 2 Franklin Stakes on October 12…Live racing resumes on Saturday with a nine-race card highlighted by the $100,000 Twixt Stakes for fillies and mares at one mile on dirt…Reigning Maryland-bred Horse of the Year Post Time starts in Sunday’s $100,000 Polynesian Stakes for 3-year-olds and upward at one mile…There’s still time to register for the “Charm City Pick 5 Challenge,” a free online handicapping contest. Make a selection in the final five races each day during the Laurel Park fall meet, and win cash prizes. Click here to learn more.…Reserve your spot for our weekly “Bubbly Brunch Sundays” at Laurel Park. 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 and the event runs through the final live race…Tickets are available for “Cigars on the Rail,” presented by WBAL NewsRadio 1050 AM. Enjoy premium cigars, an open bar, a trackside luncheon, and great live horse racing on Saturday, September 20 between noon and 5pm. Click here to learn more.