Russell, Barbosa Clinch Laurel Spring Meet Titles

Brittany Russell celebrated Mother's Day in style by winning with her only two starters May 8 at Laurel Park and clinching her first career training title.

Russell, 32, ended the 22-day spring meet with a flourish, winning five races from nine starters over the final weekend to edge Jamie Ness, 14-13 and snap Claudio Gonzalez's streak at nine consecutive meet titles in Maryland. Gonzalez wound up third with 10 wins.

"It's a huge accomplishment. My team, just how far we've come in a short time, it's going to take me a little bit to wrap my head around it," Russell said. "I think it's a really big deal for the barn. My crew is amazing. I'm lucky for the clients I have and the barn we've built."

Russell and Ness entered Sunday's closing day program tied with 12 wins after Ness beat Russell with their only starters in the fifth race Saturday. The Elkstone Group's 7-year-old gelding Stroll Smokin  ($5.60), favored at 9-5, captured race 4 to push Russell ahead, and Sycamore Hall Thoroughbreds' 3-year-old filly Little Bit of That  ($4.80) made it official with her triumph in race 4. Ridden by Forest Boyce, she went off the 7-5 favorite.

You Must Chill  ($3.60) edged Indian Lake , both trained and co-owned by Ness, in race 7 for the final margin.

"It's cool because you can see when we're hot and when we're cold," Russell said. "Through the winter we were a little quiet. We have some turf horses coming back, we gave some horses a break, you have your 2-year-olds that you're waiting on to develop into better 3-year-olds, like this filly. Things just kind of checked into place at the right time."

Karen Patty was the first female to lead the trainer standings in Maryland, during the 1992 spring meet at historic Pimlico Race Course. The only others are Mary Eppler, at Laurel's 2016 fall stand; Linda Rice, who tied for the top spot at Laurel's 2017 winter meet; and now Russell.

The battle for leading jockey came down to the final race of the meet when Jevian Toledo finished sixth aboard favored Scintilli and fell one win short of seven-pound apprentice Jeiron Barbosa, 20-19. It is the first riding title for Barbosa, an 18-year-old native of Puerto Rico, who had a five-win edge before missing the final three days of the spring meet serving a suspension.

Barbosa becomes only the third apprentice in a decade to lead the jockey standings at Laurel, following Yomar Ortiz (2013 winter) and Julio Correa (2019 summer). Toledo, Maryland's overall riding champion in 2015, 2017 and 2021, had three wins, three seconds, and three thirds in 12 mounts during Barbosa's absence, including the race 4 triumph on Stroll Smokin.

"I'm feeling really happy and really grateful with all the opportunities," Barbosa said through fellow Maryland jockey and family friend Angel Cruz. "To be here my first month and be leading rider of the spring meet, it's a big accomplishment."

According to Equibase statistics Barbosa rode his first professional race Jan. 1 in Puerto Rico, where he won three times before arriving in the U.S. March 23. Two days later, he made his mainland debut at Laurel and won with each of his first two mounts—Heliacal Rising  and Ludicrous Mode .

Barbosa registered four multi-win days during the spring meet, including going 4-for-4 April 9.