LAUREL, Md. – Madaket Stables, Ten Strike Racing, Michael Kisber and BTR Racing, Inc.’s 7-year-old gelding Whereshetoldmetogo will make a rare start outside of stakes company when he headlines a third-level optional claiming allowance Friday at Laurel Park.
The stakes-quality feature for 3-year-olds and up sprinting six furlongs is carded sixth on a nine-race program. Trained by Brittany Russell, Whereshetoldmetogo is the 7-5 program favorite in a field of seven that have combined for 60 career victories.
A winner of 14 career races including 11 stakes, Whereshetoldmetogo has made 15 consecutive stakes appearances since winning a Nov. 7, 2019, optional claiming allowance at Churchill Downs for previous trainer Brad Cox.
His two most recent wins have come in the Howard and Sondra Bender Memorial last November and March 19 Not For Love at Laurel, both restricted to Maryland-bred/sired horses. Among Friday’s race conditions is not having won a race ‘other than maiden, claiming, waiver claiming, starter or state-bred or state-sired races since Oct. 29.’
“It was kind of cool that he was eligible for it, so we thought we should try and take advantage. The idea with this horse is just to keep him winning,” Russell said. “I mean it’s racing, and anything can happen but if you spot him well, and it appears it is a good spot, then you hope that he can just continue to keep winning.”
Whereshetoldmetogo made his 33rd start in the Not For Love, winning by three-quarters of a length under Jevian Toledo, who returns to ride from the far outside post. It was his first start since being beaten two lengths when fifth in defense of his 2020 Dave’s Friend victory Dec. 26.
The chestnut son of El Padrino was among 38 nominees to the April 16 Frank Y. Whiteley at Laurel, a race he also won in 2020, but Russell opted to wait and give him more time.
Also entered are Pictor, a 12-time winner based at Penn National with trainer Tim Kreiser, who captured the April 23 Primonetta with Kaylasaurus; 2020 Maryland Million Sprint winner Karan’s Notion; New York-bred stakes winner Amundson; and Eastern Bay, a multiple stakes winner beaten a nose in the 2020 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (G3) that is in for a $50,000 tag. Pictor and Karan’s Notion were also nominated to the Whiteley.
“He came out of that last race in great shape. I thought about running him in the stake,” Russell said. “He’s nominated and you think about it, but I’m looking at the condition book and thought, ‘This horse always appreciates an extra week, an extra two weeks between [starts].’ I’m hoping that we’re playing our cards right and this works out well for him.”
Russell reported that Madaket, The Elkstone Group and Michael Dubb’s Grade 3 winner Wondrwherecraigis is due to rejoin her Laurel string this weekend. The multiple stakes winner is exiting a 10th-place finish in the $2 million Golden Shaheen (G1) March 26 in Dubai.
“Craig’s good. He’s set to come back here any day now, actually. He will be with us by the end of the week,” Russell said. “He just had a little R&R up at Fair Hill and he’s ready to get back to it.”
Maryland Jockey Club Press Release
Photo: Whereshetoldmetogo winning the 2021 Not For Love at Laurel Park. (Maryland Jockey Club)
