Shayjolie Gives Russell Win 1,000 in Cat Cay
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Maryland-based jockey Sheldon Russell won the 1,000th race of his career March 7 in style by guiding Sean Shay's Shayjolie to victory in the $100,000 Cat Cay Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack .
The leading rider at all three Maryland meets in 2011 and ranked 59th in earnings nationwide in 2014, Russell, aboard Shayjolie, won the Cat Cay by three-quarters of a length for trainer Gary Contessa.
"Honestly, I was not going to run her this month, but just like in any sport, you can call an audible at any time," Contessa said of the 4-year-old Indian Charlie filly. "I saw how this race was shaping up, and I thought, 'I need to be in it. She needs to be a stakes winner.' She has got a great pedigree, she's by Indian Charlie, and she wants to be a good horse. That could very well happen."
Shayjolie came off of a sixth in the Feb. 14 Maryland Racing Media Stakes at Laurel Park, but last November was graded stakes-placed with a runner-up finish in the Comely Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct after a second in Laurel's Safely Kept Stakes.
"She has knocked at the door in some very big races. Maybe this could be her year," Contessa said. "I said to Sheldon, 'You'll never forget who I am. Long after I'm retired, you'll remember Gary Contessa put you up on your 1,000th winner.' "
Shayjolie tracked the pace and picked it up at the half-mile pole in the 1 1/16-mile inner-track test. She forged to the front and narrowly increased the advantage inside the furlong grounds, winning by three-quarters of a length over pacesetter Holiday's Jewel in 1:47.19 on a fast track.
Bred in Kentucky by Peachtree Stable out of the Is It True mare School for Scandal, Shayjolie picked up the third win of her career from 12 starts to push her earnings to $309,943.
"I got a really great trip," Russell said. "She has very good speed out of the gate, so I was able to get good position. She was smooth the whole way around; I had to move a little bit early but she was always traveling well. Obviously, she likes this track a lot.
"It was a great trip, and a nice horse to get my 1,000th win on. I know (her connections) were very confident going into the race. I'm just glad she ran up to expectations."
Shayjolie returned $6.90, $4.80, and $2.70, while Holiday's Jewel brought $6.80 and $3.10 with Storied Lady rounding out the trifecta at $2.40.
Born in Bossier City, La., Russell was raised in South Africa and rode his first race at Wolverhampton, England, when he was 18. After riding in approximately 60 races in England, Russell came to the United States to become an exercise rider at the Maryland farm of trainer Michael Dickinson.
"It's a great achievement, considering all the injuries and broken bones along the journey," Russell said in late February when approaching the mark. "It's a huge milestone."