Eff Thirty Five Kicks Them Down

Eff Thirty Five in Sunday Feature. (Jim McCue/TMJC)

Petingas Twin Pulls Off Mild Upset In Co-Featured Tenth Race

Dan Illman/Laurel Park

LAUREL, Md.—When Eff Thirty Five minds his manners, he is a tough horse to beat. 

Unfortunately, Eff Thirty Five can be cantankerous, and jockey Sheldon Russell believes that naughty behavior worked against him in past races, most noticeably in his final start over the summer at Colonial Downs on Aug. 20.

“At Colonial, he was erratic in the post parade,” Russell said. “He’s a big boy, playing around and never really focused. He made about four runs at me down the backside. He clipped heels, came eight wide, hit the front, [and] hung all over the place.”

Despite his immature demeanor that afternoon, Eff Thirty Five was only beaten three-quarters of a length, hinting at his upside potential. 

This afternoon, Eff Thirty Five woke up on the right side of the stall. He was Dr. Jekyll compared to the Mr. Hyde we saw at Colonial. 

He was calm, cool and collected in the paddock, settled back in last position, then stormed down the center of the Bowl Game Turf Course to win the co-featured fifth race, a $56,000 conditioned allowance for 3-year-olds and upward at one mile. 

“Today, he was like a pony, and we have to keep him like this because that’s when he runs,” Russell added. “He saves the energy, and he’s easier to ride.”

Ten-time stakes-placed performer There Are No Words, as expected, went right to the early lead under Kentucky Derby-winning rider Sonny Leon, and set fractions of 24.41 and 48.06 seconds while prompted by multiple stakes-winner Forever Souper. The pacesetter attempted to steal away through a swift third quarter in 23.62, but those enervating fractions cooked his goose. Forever Souper eventually grinded to the lead, but Russell had Eff Thirty Five in full flight, and they streaked under the wire in the nick of time. 

Race favorite Forever Souper finished a neck behind with There Are No Words another three-quarters back in third. Then came multiple stakes-winner Fulmineo, Grade 2 winner Wow Whata Summer, stakes-placed Hunter Joe, and multiple stakes-placed Hittheroadjak. Feeling Woozy and Quick to Accuse scratched.

Eff Thirty Five raced the mile in 1:35.72 over firm going, and paid $8.80 as the second choice in the betting. 

“He was nice and relaxed,” Russell noted. “He’s probably further back than I wanted, but the way he ran into the first bend, he was just off the bridle. I revved him up a little early, and it was just whether I’d get there in time. He hit the line running. I couldn’t really pull him up. I had to jog him home because he was running off with me [on the way] back. Cool horse.”

That’s high praise coming from Russell, who originally wanted nothing to do with Eff Thirty Five. 

“I didn’t want to ride him,” he said after the 4-year-old gelding won in similar fashion here on April 12. “I knew I couldn’t control him. I’ve seen him in the morning. I’ve seen some of his other races. I said [to wife and trainer Brittany Russell] not to put me on. [Jevian] Toledo, Victor [Carrasco], [anyone but me].”

Eff Thirty Five was bred in Pennsylvania by Equivine Farm and was purchased by Stuart Grant’s The Elkstone Group for $62,000 as a yearling. He is a half-brother to multiple stakes-winner Newstome and stakes-winner Miss You Ella. The third dam, Hollywood Wildcat, won the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

“I think it’s the Yoshida,” Brittany Russell said about Eff Thirty Five’s sire after the April 12 victory. “I think I’ve heard other people say that they’re just a little high-strung. He does really good at Fair Hill because he gets turned out, and they do a great job with him up there. He’s kinda just annoying, and he’s a big strong horse, so you add all that together…”

Eff Thirty Five has won six times from 17 starts, earning $213,607.

Petingas Twin Pulls Off Mild Upset In Co-Featured Tenth Race

Ever since being claimed for $20,000 out of his career debut at Churchill Downs in 2023, Petingas Twin hinted at potential.

He hit the board in his first three starts for trainer Anthony Farrior, graduated by 9 ¼ lengths in a maiden special weight at 5 ½ furlongs, and won three consecutive races over three different racetracks during the spring and summer of 2024. 

Since the last victory during that stretch, a second-level allowance at Laurel on July 21, 2024, Petingas Twin suffered through an eight-race losing streak, and some handicappers wondered if he would ever break through to the next level.

Petingas Twin answered that question affirmatively in today’s co-featured eighth race, a $56,000 conditioned allowance for 3-year-olds and upward at six furlongs, beating a stakes-quality field in a quick time of 1:09.89 over the fast track. 

Ridden by the meet’s leading jockey, teenage apprentice Yedsit Hazlewood, Petingas Twin arguably ran a lifetime best. He broke nicely, secured the inside to press a three-ply pace with multiple stakes-winner No Cents and stakes-placed S S Sinatra, was squeezed back slightly entering the turn, recovered immediately to chase No Cents with a three-wide bid, then ran by nicely to prevail by three lengths over the fast track. 

Paradise Valley kicked on for second, 3 ½ lengths ahead of stakes-winner Sunny Breeze. Stakes-winner Karan’s Notion, S S Sinatra, No Cents were next, followed by favored Grade 3 winner Dean Delivers. Faster Gator, Seven’s Eleven, Northern Flame, and Worcester scratched

Petingas Twin returned $11.60 as the sixth choice in the seven-horse field. 

A 4-year-old gelding by Take Charge Indy, Petingas Twin was bred in Kentucky by Mesingw Farm. His third dam, Summer Colony, was a Grade 1-winning millionaire. 

Purchased for $52,000 as a yearling, Petingas Twin started once for Steve Asmussen before being claimed by Farrior on behalf of owner James C. Wolf. 

He has won five times from 19 starts for $228,086 in earnings. 

Around the Track … … …. …..

Jockey Horacio Karamanos rode two turf winners on the Sunday card as he rallied late aboard Luca Machine ($9.40) in the opener, and on Amie’s Symphony ($6.80) in the ninth race…

Live racing resumes Friday with a 10-race program. The first post time is 12:10 p.m. ET, and there are two “Value Pick 5” wagers, each with a low 12% takeout rate…

Laurel Park proudly hosts the “Craft Beer Festival” on Saturday, October 25. Enjoy the best in local Maryland craft brewing on our Trackside Apron. For more information, visit https://www.laurelpark.com/craftbeer/