Hybrid Eclipse starts her 2023 season in style (Maryland Jockey Club)
Maryland Jockey Club Press Release
LAUREL, Md.— The Elkstone Group’s Hybrid Eclipse kicked off her 5-year-old campaign in style Saturday by driving away from Award Wanted and Pistol Liz Ablazen to win the $100,000 Nellie Morse.
A daughter of Paynter ridden by Jevian Toledo and trained by Brittany Russell, Hybrid Eclipse ($4.60) covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.96 and was a 4 ½ length winner over Award Wanted. Pistol Liz Ablazen was third.
A distant third in the Beldame (G2) at Aqueduct last fall and winner of the Thirty Eight Go Go at Laurel in November, Hybrid Eclipse was rated off the pacesetters Runaway Monet and Pistol Liz Ablazen down the backstretch past fractions of :23.92 and :48.23. Fifth just two lengths away from the leaders entering the far turn, Toledo guided Hybrid Eclipse to the outside and moved four wide around the turn before taking the lead inside the final eighth.
Hybrid Eclipse has now won seven of 19 starts, including Caesar’s Wish last summer at Laurel. It was the third straight win on the card for Toledo and second in a stakes following Nimitz Class in the $100,000 John B. Campbell.
The Nellie Morse pays tribute to the fourth of just six fillies to win the Preakness Stakes (G1), Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown, a feat she accomplished in 1924 just three days after capturing the Pimlico Oaks, now run as the Black-Eyed Susan (G2). As a broodmare her daughter, Nellie Flag, was the champion 2-year-old of 1934 and beaten favorite in the 1935 Kentucky Derby (G1). Descendants of Nellie Morse, through Nellie Flag, include three-time Horse of the Year and Hall of Famer Forego, 1976 Kentucky Derby winner and 3-year-old champion Bold Forbes, and 1943 champion handicap mare Mar-Kell.
