Factor It In, Fille d'Esprit Capture Stakes at Laurel

Michael Scheffres' multiple grade 3-placed Factor It In  continued his career-best form Jan. 21 at Laurel Park by cruising to his third stakes victory in his past five starts, a two-length triumph in the $100,000 Fire Plug Stakes, one of six stakes on Laurel's Saturday program.

With Angel Cruz up for trainer Carlos Mancilla, Factor It In covered the distance in 1:18.01 on a fast main track for his second straight win after capping 2022 in the Dec. 30 Dave's Friend Stakes at Laurel. 

Factor It In, a gray or roan 7-year-old son of The Factor  , also won the Challedon Stakes against fellow Maryland-bred/sired horses last fall and ran third in back-to-back graded races in New York—the Bold Ruler Stakes (G3) and Fall Highweight (G3)—beaten less than a length combined. 

"Carlos and his brother Oscar, they do such a spectacular job not only on this horse but on all our horses," Scheffres said. "They work so hard and they're such a great team. I'm so lucky to have them." 

Five Dreams , runner-up in the six-furlong Blitzen Stakes Jan. 4 at Parx, and 40-1 longshot Air Token , winner of the 2021 Maryland Million Sprint, dueled through an opening quarter-mile in :23.51 and a half in :46.62 as Cruz kept Factor It In in the clear in third. Factor It In launched his bid midway around the far turn and set his sights on the leaders once straightened for home, powering through the stretch under Cruz, who wrapped up approaching the wire. 

"I was afraid Angel might try to go to the front and I haven't seen much speed go wire-to-wire today. I kept asking Carlos, 'Do you think Angel is going to go to the front?'" Scheffres said. "He did it exactly the way I would have wanted. It was perfect." 

Yodel E. A. Who  came with a late run to be second, a length in front of Five Dreams, with another half-length back to multiple stakes winner Alwaysinahurry. Savoy , Karan's Notion , Air Token, and Al Loves Josie  completed the order of finish. Pirate Rick  and Beren  were scratched. 

Bred by Pope McLean, Marc McLean, Pope McLean Jr., and Phil Hager in Kentucky, Factor It In is out of the Speightstown mare Speightlass. She has three starters and as many winners from six foals, with Factor It In being her sole black-type horse. Her three unraced foals include a 3-year-old Blame   filly named Mon Dieu, a 2-year-old filly by Audible  , and a yearling filly by Game Winner  .

Six years ago, Factor It In was purchased by trainer John Servis from Pope McLean's consignment at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The horse initially raced for D. J. Stable with Servis as his trainer.

Fille d'Esprit Rebounds in What A Summer

C J I Phoenix Group and No Guts No Glory Farm's Fille d'Esprit , beaten as the favorite in her season finale last month, rebounded with an emphatic 5 1/4-length victory in the $100,000 What A Summer Stakes, her 7-year-old debut. 

Swayin to and Fro  went off as the 4-5 favorite on the strength of back-to-back stakes wins at Laurel by 10 combined lengths, most recently in the Dec. 30 Willa On the Move Stakes, a race where Fille d'Esprit ran fourth. Swayin to and Fro and fellow multiple stakes winner Dontletsweetfoolya  raced together up front going a quarter-mile in :22.52. 

Fille d'Esprit, who won the Maryland Million Distaff and Politely stakes in succession prior to the Willa On the Move, moved up to second behind Swayin to and Fro after Dontletsweetfoolya dropped back following a half-mile in :46.45. Fille d'Esprit overtook Swayin to and Fro at the top of the stretch and opened up, covering the distance in 1:11.70. 

Swayin to and Fro was second, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of 18-1 longshot Snicket , while Fouette edged Dontletsweetfoolya  for fourth. Disco Ebo  was scratched. 

Bred by Sweet Spirits Stables in Maryland, Fille d'Esprit is out of the No Armistice  mare Sweet Valor . Fille d'Esprit is her lone stakes winner from five foals, with the dam also having one other starter and winner. Yet to have an opportunity to race for the dam is a 2-year-old No Never No More   filly named Never More Valor and a yearling filly by Blofeld   named Cross of Valor.

Russell Wins Both Stakes for 3-Year-Olds

Laurel staged four other stakes on Saturday. Those were won by No Guts No Glory Farm and Erica Upton's Award Wanted  in the $75,000 Geisha Stakes, Built Wright Stables' Plot the Dots  in the $75,000 Jennings Stakes, Madaket Stables' L Street Lady  in the $100,000 Xtra Heat Stakes, and Michael Dubb and Morris Bailey's Prince of Jericho  in the $100,000 Spectacular Bid Stakes.  The Geisha and Jennings were for Maryland-bred runners.

Trainer Brittany Russell won both the Xtra Heat and Spectacular Bid for 3-year-old fillies and 3-year-old males, respectively, with progeny of Munnings  .

L Street Lady improved to 2-for-3 in the Xtra Heat, winning her second consecutive race. She raced six furlongs in 1:12.81 under Jevian Toledo. Later on the card, Prince of Jericho pulled away for a four-length score in the Spectacular Bid, finishing seven furlongs in 1:25.93.