Jamie Ness leading trainer
Rylnnslookinglucky, Matthew’s Ticket Earn Maryland Million Maiden Bonus

LAUREL, MD—While Barbosa was away, Yedsit played.

After winning eight races over the past three Laurel Park cards and moving into a narrow lead in the jockey standings, red-hot Jeiron Barbosa was at Churchill Downs on Sunday to ride The Stork Club in the $225,000 Debutante Stakes.

That opened the door for Yedsit Hazlewood, and the teenage sensation kicked it down, winning five races on the final day of the meet to claim the championship.

Hazlewood began his march toward the title with a rallying victory aboard Vanilla ($4.60) in the fourth race for trainer Jamie Ness. About half an hour later, Hazlewood and Ness struck again, this time with Stronsino ($8), who returned from a year-plus layoff to wire the field in race five.

Moving on to the sixth race, Hazlewood spread the wealth, guiding Matthew’s Ticket ($8.80) to a facile maiden victory for trainer Phil Capuano. He then teamed again with Ness for the trainer’s third win of the card, as Spidey Man ($3.20) took no prisoners in the seventh. In a fitting end to the meet, Hazlewood wired the field aboard Pudge Boy Palace ($4) for his mentor, trainer Jose Corrales.

Originally from Panama, Hazlewood, 18, missed a couple of months during his first year in the saddle due to injuries from an automobile accident, yet still achieved 137 victories in 2025, earning $4,451,869. Those numbers helped him finish as the runner-up in last year’s Eclipse Award voting for Outstanding Apprentice Rider.

He earned his first riding title last summer at the Maryland State Fair Meet in Timonium and led the standings at the Laurel Park Fall, Winter, and Spring meetings.

Hazlewood also earned year-end honors as Maryland's winningest jockey and currently leads the 2026 national standings in total winners.

With Laurel Park going dark for the next two months, Hazlewood will move his tack to Kentucky for the summer, where he will compete at Ellis Park.

*Jamie Ness captures training title

Ness began Sunday in a similar boat to his go-to rider, one race behind Brittany Russell in the trainer standings after she won three races Saturday.

After his own hat trick on Sunday, the veteran trainer secured his second training title in Maryland this year. Ness also won the Laurel Park winter meet and finished second to Russell in the spring.

Ness, 51, of Heron, South Carolina, has now earned nine training titles in Maryland. The 16th trainer in history to reach 4,000 victories in North America, he was the nation's winningest trainer last year and is currently third in 2026, behind only Steve Asmussen and Brad Cox.

*Around the track:

*Maiden winners Rylnnslookinglucky and Matthew’s Ticket each earned a 5% bonus on Sunday. The bonus program, which began on March 1, rewards Maryland Million-eligible horses that win maiden races in the state. Only horses sired by Maryland Million stallions, conceived in Maryland, and fully nominated and certified for the Maryland Million program qualify. Stallions must have been nominated in the year the horse was conceived.

Rylnnslookinglucky is a 4-year-old filly by Madefromlucky out of Iflookscouldkill, by Louis Quatorze. Bred by Michael J. Harrison, Rylnnslookinglucky is owned by Harrison in partnership with Herradura Racing. Angel Cruz rode for trainer Kenny Cox.

Matthew’s Ticket is a 3-year-old gelding by Maryland sire Fortune Ticket out of Jazzy Java, by Nobiz Like Shobiz. Bred in New Jersey by Gina and Kelly Lupton, Matthew’s Ticket is owned by Mopo Racing and trained by Phil Capuano.

*Congratulations to Stuart Grant’s The Elkstone Group, Steven Keil, and Joanne Shankle on finishing in a three-way tie for the owner’s title.