Russell, Kobiskie take year-end Maryland titles

Sheldon Russell and Dane Kobiskie wrapped up year-end titles for the calendar

year in the jockey and trainer divisions, respectively, at the major Maryland

tracks after Saturday's final card of the season at Laurel Park.

Russell captured the riding title at all three meets at Laurel Park and

Pimlico this year, finishing with 126 victories, 24 more than Julian Pimentel,

including 55 during the Laurel fall meeting. The 24-year-old also led the colony

with 10 stakes wins in the state, with three victories aboard Eighttofasttocatch

and two with Red's Round Table and Concealed Identity.

"I am very happy with the way things have gone, it is the first year that I

have avoided injury that caused me to miss time," Russell said. "This has been

my best year to date in terms of wins and earnings. It has been nice to win all

three meets. It is something to be proud of.

"The Maryland Million Classic win with Eighttofasttocatch was one win that

sticks out. I flew my two sisters over from England and my dad came to visit to

watch the big day."

Russell, who has been a regular rider in Maryland since the fall of 2007,

rode Concealed Identity to a 10th-place finish in the Preakness Stakes at

Pimlico in May. The experience was one that will stick with the rider for many

years.

On Laurel's final day, a pair of stakes for Maryland-bred juveniles

helped close out the meet.

Dark Hollow Farm's Plum was up in the final jump to win the $75,000

Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship, scoring by a head over More Than a

Cruise, with frontrunner Bluegrass Atatude two lengths farther back in

third.

Travis Dunkelberger was at the controls as the daughter of Pure Prize

prevailed in a final time of 1:33 4/5 for 7 1/2 furlongs on the fast

track.

"I thought I got there," Dunkelberger said. "They were getting away

from me on the turn. I hit her right-handed, she kind of sulked a

little. I hit her left-handed, she exploded. Amazing filly."

Plum, who now boasts a 3-1-0 mark from four outings and $86,070 in

career earnings for trainer Rodney Jenkins, has made all of her starts

at Laurel Park. She vindicated her 8-5 favoritism to return $5.20, $2.80

and $2.20.

Two races later, James A. Riccio's King and Crusader made his first

foray into his native state a winning one when he upset eight other

Maryland-bred two-year-olds in the $75,000 Maryland Juvenile

Championship.

Rick Dutrow trains the son of Lion Heart, who was ridden for the

first time by Victor Santiago in the 7 1/2-furlong contest. They stole

off to an uncontested lead, surrendered the front to even money favorite

Glib in midstretch, then reclaimed the lead nearing the wire to win by 1

1/4 lengths in 1:32. King and Crusader was sent off at 16-1 and paid

$34.60, $11.80 and $7.20.

"The assistant trainer told me now he was going from three-quarters

to seven eighths so you might be in front, be second, be third," said

Santiago, who recently re-located to Maryland from the New York-New

Jersey circuit. "He broke sharp and I settled him down, made a little

slow pace. My horse was not cooperating with me, he was lugging in a

little bit. I had to grab the reins. As soon as I hit him he

straightened up and came back again. From there on, it was ride him to

the wire."