Taj Mahal earned his means into the $2 million Preakness Stakes (G1), the second jewel of the Triple Crown, with a dominant efficiency April 18 within the $150,000 Federico Tesio Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles at Laurel Park.
“That is our horse. He was superior at this time. The jockey did job,” beamed profitable coach Brittany Russell, who had a four-win afternoon on Saturday’s 12-race “Preakness Preview Day” program. Taj Mahal, b, 3/c
Nyquist — Oola Gal, by High quality Highway
Proprietor: SF Racing, LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, LLC, Stonestreet Stables, LLC, Bashor Racing, LLC, Decided Stables, Golconda Secure, Waves Edge Capital, LLC & Catherine Donovan
Breeder: Vegso Racing Secure (FL)
Coach: Brittany T. Russell
Jockey: Sheldon Russell
Info supplied by Equibase at time of entry.
Pedigree Notes
Nyquist stands at Darley for $175,000 (2026).
Sale Historical past
KEESEP2024 • $525,000 • Consignor: Eaton Gross sales • Purchaser: Donato Lanni, agent for SF Bloodstock/Starlight Racing/Madaket Secure.
“The jockey” is Brittany’s husband, Sheldon Russell, who gained three races and despatched Taj Mahal to the lead from the far outdoors publish within the 10-horse Federico Tesio.
Displaying sensible early foot, Taj Mahal cleared to the rail earlier than the midway level of the clubhouse flip and opened a 4-length lead after a gap quarter in :23.93.
Freewheeling on the backstretch, Taj Mahal was 10 lengths forward of a shell-shocked Volendam after a half-mile clocking of :47.80. Join BloodHorse Each day
Sheldon Russell allowed the colt a breather coming into the far flip. They accomplished 6 furlongs in 1:14.30, however that introduced Volendam, Wild Warrior , and Let’s Go Lando into rivalry.
For a second, it seemed like Taj Mahal’s tank was empty however, within the blink of a watch, he discovered one other gear. Amid the gang’s oohs and aahs, Taj Mahal bounded house, 8 1/4 lengths higher than Wild Warrior, in 1:52.92 for the 1 1/8 miles on the quick monitor.
Let’s Go Lando completed third, 1 1/4 lengths behind stablemate Wild Warrior.
Favored Taj Mahal returned $4.40 to win.
Bred in Florida by Vegso Racing Secure, Taj Mahal is a bay colt by Nyquist , out of stakes-placed Oola Gal, by High quality Highway . Bought for $525,000 as a yearling, Taj Mahal is owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Bashor Racing, Decided Stables, Golconda Secure, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan.
Video: Federico Tesio S. (BT)
Cruise the Nile earns first stakes victory in Henry S. Clark
Heading into the $100,000 Henry S. Clark Stakes for 3-year-olds and up, racing 1 mile on the turf, handicappers knew Cruise the Nile had velocity and pure potential.
However how would he fare towards one other velocity horse?
That query was answered within the affirmative when Cruise the Nile and jockey Jorge Ruiz rallied from off the tempo to nip Horsepower by a neck in 1:33.85 on the agency turf course.
Cruise the Nile, the betting favourite, paid $4.40 to win. Bartlett held third.
Cruise the Nile is a 4-year-old gelding by Cairo Prince , out of the stakes-winning Into Mischief mare Celebration Boat .
Bred in New Jersey, Cruise the Nile is a homebred owned by Hope Jones and skilled by Graham Movement.
Video: Henry S. Clark S. (BT)
Outlaw Child reigns in King T. Leatherbury Stakes
Benefiting from an electrical tempo and a beautiful trip by Ruiz, Outlaw Child returned firing in his first begin of the 12 months to win the $100,000 King T. Leatherbury Stakes for 3-year-olds and up, protecting 5 1/2 furlongs in a 1:01.59 on the turf.
Outlaw Child, a 7-year-old gelding by Violence , saved floor in midpack as a number of stakes winner Doncho and the speedy Jean Valjean blitzed by the opening quarter in :22.08.
Ruiz spied a gap alongside the within as they changed into the lengthy stretch, and Outlaw Child lengthened his stride. Compelled to briefly angle outdoors a tiring Doncho, Ruiz instantly maneuvered his mount again to the rail, and so they stormed house to win by a neck over a number of stakes winner Chasing Liberty .
Whenigettoheaven rallied for third, a size behind Chasing Liberty.
Outlaw Child, owned by R. A. Hill Secure and SGV Thoroughbreds and skilled by George Weaver, paid $24 to win.
Video: King T. Leatherbury S. (BT)
This press launch has been edited for content material and magnificence by BloodHorse Workers.
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