Lute Warm succeeds off layoff for “Jockey of the Week” Sheldon Russell

LAUREL, MD—Wild Vine's Cinderella story continued at Laurel Park on Friday as the 6-year-old gelding dusted a quality field in the sixth race, a $56,000 allowance for 3-year-olds and upward at one mile.

Bred in Pennsylvania by R R Equine Stables, Wild Vine was discovered by ex-trainer Flint Stites under strange circumstances.

"I got this horse for nothing,” Stites said in the Laurel Park winner’s circle after Wild Vine pulled off a $34.60 upset earlier this year. “I had a friend of mine set me up with this horse when he was a yearling. He was turned out in a field in Kentucky, still with his mother and another mare. He had never been touched by human hands.”

Stites did phenomenal work with Wild Vine. They teamed up for six wins and 14 in-the-money finishes from 19 starts before trainer Jamie Ness claimed Red Vine for $55,000 out of a fourth-place finish at Laurel on Feb. 28.

“I saw a Pennsylvania bred,” Ness said when asked the reasons for the claim. “We run at Parx. I’d been watching the horse. Zero pedigree. We just took a shot.”

Red Vine won his first two starts for Ness’s Jagger Inc. and Super C Racing, then hit the board in his next four outings, including a second in Parx’s restricted Storm Cat Stakes on Sept. 19, and a third in the restricted Jump Start Stakes there the following month.

Favored Red Vine bobbled at the start on Friday, but jockey Mychel Sanchez quickly righted the ship. They advanced to track pacesetter Quick to Accuse’s fractions of 24.31 and 47.82 seconds, moved comfortably past that foe after a six-furlong clocking in 1:12.28, then drove home to the second-wire finish, comfortably polishing off the distance in 1:37.35 over the fast track.

Quick to Accuse finished 3 ½ lengths back in second, and was three-quarters of a length better than Worcester. Wynstock, Duke of Gloucester, Fulmineo, Seven’s Eleven, and Cap Com were next. Call Me Fast, Shake Em Loose, and Howgreatisnate scratched.

Red Vine returned $5.40 to win.

Despite Red Vine’s good running lines in stakes races, Ness might be hesitant to try that company again.

“He’s a need-Lasix horse,” Ness said. “He’s a different horse with it, unfortunately.”

Wild Vine has significantly matured since his time frolicking in the pasture with his dam.

“He was really small when I got him,” Stites said after that surprise Laurel win. “We gave him plenty of time to grow.”

And grow he did, weighing in at 1,202 lbs. before his final start of 2024, a sixth-place finish in Laurel’s Robert T. Manfuso Stakes on Dec. 21.

“He looks like a million-dollar horse if he had pedigree,” marveled Ness, who won two races on Friday’s program.

Wild Vine has banked $349,090.

*Lute Warm succeeds off layoff for “Jockey of the Week” Sheldon Russell

When you’re hot, you’re hot.

Fresh after being named “Jockey of the Week” by the Jockeys’ Guild, Sheldon Russell rode two winners on the Friday card, highlighted by Lute Warm’s victory in the co-featured eighth race, a $56,000 allowance for fillies and mares at a mile on turf.

The weekly honor recognizes jockeys for significant riding accomplishments and who are members of the Jockeys’ Guild. Founded in 1940, the Guild represents more than 1,050 active, retired, and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.

Russell’s notable wins last week came at Laurel Park, as he captured the $100,000 James F. Lewis III Stakes aboard Balboa, and the $100,000 Thirty Eight Go Go Stakes with Complexity Jane.

Both Balboa and Complexity Jane are trained by Russell’s wife, leading trainer Brittany Russell. Brittany Russell also saddled Russell’s two Friday winners.

As for Lute Warm, she was expertly conditioned by Brittany Russell. A 5-year-old mare by Midnight Lute, Lute Warm won half of her eight starts in 2024, but hadn’t raced since finishing sixth as the favorite in the Blushing K.D. Stakes at Fair Grounds on Dec. 21.

“We’ve always thought a lot of her,” Brittany Russell said. “She’s a good filly. When I had her going in the spring, she had a real minor setback, but it took time. It was a nagging thing, and we had to forget about her for the summer.”

Not only does Russell’s patience pay off for her owners, but it also benefits bettors. According to Daily Racing Form’s Formulator product, she is 44-for-144 (31) and a positive return on investment with horses making the first start after a layoff of six months to one year.

“I actually tried to enter her a couple of times, so I felt like I had her pretty fit,” she said. “As fit as I could have her off the shelf like that.”

Sheldon Russell had a plan leaving the starting gate. Central Casting, stretching out in distance for Ness, appeared to be the primary pacesetter. The jockey made sure that Lute Warm didn’t let that foe get too far in front.

Central Casting put down fractions of 24.27 and 48.48, but Lute Warm was on top of her after six furlongs in 1:11.90. Lute Warm grabbed the top in upper stretch and held sway to prevail by 1 ½ lengths over Amie’s Symphony. Cut From Class was another neck back in third. Lady Outoftheblue, Tour Jete, Central Casting, and Fiona’s Magic completed the order of finish.

Lute Warm returned $6 to win as the betting favorite. Passage East, I’m a Cutie Pie, and Cluck Cluck scratched.

“Training in the morning, she’s on the engine,” Brittany Russell said. “She’s fresh. I wanted to see her settle in. It was a good trip.”

Bred in Kentucky by Machmer Hall, Lute Warm is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Steal Sunshine and stakes-placed Cat Chat. Bridlewood Farm and Madaket Stables purchased her as a yearling for $125,000.

Brittany Russell mentioned that if Lute Warm comes out of this race in proper order, she might head back to Fair Grounds for a winter campaign.

Sheldon Russell, 38, was born in Louisiana but raised in Newmarket, England. Following in his father’s footsteps to become a jockey, he attended racing school in England before coming to the United States in 2007.

A multiple graded stakes winner, Russell won his 1,500th career race aboard Hello Beautiful for Brittany Russell in the 2021 Alma North Stakes at Pimlico.

Sheldon Russell has 1,796 wins in his career with $58,267,667 in earnings.

Around the track:

Teenage apprentice rider Yedsit Hazlewood won two races on Friday. Hazlewood, who leads Jorge Ruiz by seven wins (38 to 31) in the race for the Fall Meeting jockey’s title, scored with Cattivo Ragazzo ($9.60) in the seventh and runaway juvenile debut winner Biker Baley ($5.20) in the finale… Live racing resumes on Saturday with a 10-race program. The first post time is 12:00 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. See picks, a full-card analysis, trainer stats, trip notes, horses to watch, track bias information, and lots more from The Maryland Jockey Club’s team of analysts. Saturday’s Guide is available on Friday evening here: 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…Join us at Laurel Park on Thanksgiving Day for an all-inclusive buffet, and receive a FREE apple or pumpkin pie with the purchase of a racing program. Click here to learn more. …Never miss a second of the action with the Laurel Park YouTube channel. Click here to catch full pan and head-on replays.