Wondrwherecraigis winning the Tale of the Cat at Saratoga Aug. 13, 2021. (Chelsea Durand).
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Brittany Russell worked Grade 3-winning sprinter Wondrwherecraigis Saturday in his final drill for next Sunday’s $100,000 Gravesend, a six-furlong handicap for 3-year-olds and up at the Big A.
The gelded son of Munnings posted a four-furlong breeze in 50 seconds flat over Pimlico Race Course’s main track.
“He is training along really well and as long as he comes out of that work well, all systems are go for the Gravesend,” Russell said. “He’s really straightforward and we try and keep him happy. It’s more or less just maintenance and he’s ready to go.”
Hoping to extend his career-best form to Aqueduct when he runs at the Big A for the first-time next weekend, Wondrwherecraigis was a driving winner of the Grade 3 Bold Ruler Handicap at Belmont Park last out on October 31.
The Bold Ruler was the first graded victory for the Michael Dubb and Elkstone Group-owned gelding, who crossed the finish line first in the Grade 3 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash at Laurel in September but was disqualified and placed behind runner-up Jalen Journey for interference in the stretch.
Russell said Wondrwherecraigis’ performance in the Bold Ruler showed his professionalism.
“He knows his job and we know he’s fast,” said Russell. “We just hold him together and keep him happy. He does his thing in the morning and he’s a smart horse. In the afternoon he does tend to do a little drifting, but hopefully all that is behind us now.”
His latest work is his second at Pimlico after moving from Laurel Park as the dirt surface there undergoes renovation. Russell says the move has not bothered the dark bay.
“I have stalls at Pimlico so he joined us over there and hasn’t missed a beat. I think he actually liked the change of scenery,” Russell said with a laugh.
NYRA Press Office
