Worcester with Sheldon Russell aboard. (Jerry Dzierwinski/TMJC)
Dan Illman/Laurel Park
LAUREL, Md. – Worcester rebounded from a runner-up effort in Aqueduct’s Stymie Stakes last month with a rallying 1 ½-length victory over stablemate New King in the Frank Y. Whiteley for 4-year-olds and upward at seven furlongs.
The Frank Y. Whiteley was one of four $100,000 stakes races on Saturday’s program at Laurel Park.
Trained by Brittany Russell for a partnership including Starlight Racing, SF Racing, Madaket Stables, and Robert Masterson, Worcester didn’t seem like his usual self at Aqueduct.
“He was a little edgy,” Russell said earlier this week. “When he walked in the paddock, he broke out that day. He’s a classy horse, but he’s a bit of an internalizer, and I saw a different side of him. [Jockey Sheldon Russell] said he was the same way warming up.”
However, Worcester thrives at Laurel Park, and he settled near the back of the pack as favored Bartlett careened through splits of 22.94 and 46.48 over a muddy, sealed track that played mostly to outside closers.
Bartlett faltered badly and was passed by pace-pressing Seven’s Eleven, who immediately was challenged by New King. Meanwhile, Worcester saved ground under jockey Sheldon Russell, eased out to split rivals on the turn, angled wider turning into the stretch, then kicked by New King to win in 1:24.38.
“He’s bounced back today,” Sheldon Russell said. “He runs like a good horse. In behind horses, he travels sweetly. He’ll run inside or outside. On paper, my goal was to follow [Bartlett]. I thought [Bartlett] would go a long way, and if he faltered off the layoff, we would run by him. But it was Brittany’s other horse that was still in front of me. I love Worcester. He’s always been a barn favorite.”
New King, making his first start in the Russell barn after racing for Bob Baffert in Southern California, finished 2 ¾ lengths ahead of a game Seven’s Eleven. Then came Circle P, Factor It In, and Bartlett. Worcester paid $6.20 as the public’s second choice.
Bred in Kentucky by the Jerry Dixon Revocable Trust and Empire Maker Syndicate, Worcester was purchased for $180,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. He is by Empire Maker and is out of stakes-winning sprinter Lil Super Bear by Super Saver.
Worcester has won four of 13 races for earnings of $273,320. The Frank Y. Whiteley was his first stakes victory.
