5-Year-Old Gelding Awaiting Green Light on Next Start
Sunday’s Eight-Race Program Gets Under Way at 12:25 P.M.
LAUREL, MD – Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group, Madaket Stables and Bethlehem Stables’ Grade 3 winner Wondrwherecraigis breezed an easy half-mile Saturday at Laurel Park ahead of a still-to-be-determined next start.
Wondrwherecraigis went four furlongs in 50 seconds over a fast main track, ranking 11th of 32 horses. It was the second work for the 5-year-old gelding since extending his win streak to two races with a 3 ¾-length triumph in the Jan. 29 Fire Plug at Laurel.
“He’s doing great. He’s awesome,” said trainer Brittany Russell, who won Saturday’s featured eighth race with Designated Hitters Racing’s 3-year-old Maryland-bred filly Gamestonks ($9). “He’s ready to do something.”
The connections are still sorting out where to bring back Wondrwherecraigis. He has finished first in each of his last five starts, but was disqualified to second for interference in the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (G3) last September at Laurel.
Wondrwherecraigis bounced back in his subsequent start to take the Bold Ruler (G3) at Aqueduct, his second of three lifetime stakes wins and first in graded company for both he and his trainer. A minor foot issue kept him from racing again until the Fire Plug.
The Elkstone Group’s Stuart Grant said earlier this month that the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) March 26 at Meydan has been in the conversation for Wondrwherecraigis, who is also nominated to the Tom Fool (G3) March 5 at Aqueduct. Laurel’s General George (G3), run three weeks after the Fire Plug, came up too quick.
“He’s doing great. He’s just waiting for the green light as to where he’s going to go,” Russell said. “He’s a cool horse. I just want to keep him around for a long time.”
Notes: Trainer Mike Geralis won with his fourth consecutive starter dating back to Feb. 20 when Mary Jane Chrome ($8.80) captured Race 2 Saturday. Geralis has won with five of six starters since Feb. 10, the exception being Heffner’s third-place finish in the $100,000 Miracle Wood … Mary Jane Chrome was the first of three Saturday wins for jockey Jevian Toledo, followed by Gamestonks ($9) in Race 8 and Charming Way ($3.40) in Race 9 … Saturday’s 20-cent Rainbow 6 was solved by one lucky bettor for a $22,540.78 payout … Post time for the first of eight Sunday races is 12:25 p.m
Maryland Jockey Club Press Release
Photo: Wonderwherecraigis (Maryland Jockey Club Photo)
