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Hibiscus Punch and jockey Horacio Karamanos posted a 41-1 upset of the Barbara Fritchie
By early Sunday morning the voice mailbox on Justin Nixon s cell phone was full, and for good reason. Late the previous afternoon, the Laurel Park-based trainer registered the first graded-stakes victory of his career in dramatic fashion with Hibiscus Punch in the $250,000 Runhappy Barbara Fritchie (G3).
Hibiscus Punch rallied to upset Hello Beautiful and Dontletsweetfoolya, both multiple stakes winners coming in on lengthy win streaks, at odds of 41-1. It was also the first graded triumph for the 6-year-old mare, and second in two months for owner-breeders Edward Seltzer and Beverly Anderson following Eres Tu in the Dec. 26 Allaire du Pont (G3), also at Laurel.
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Hibiscus Punch and jockey Horacio Karamanos posted a 41-1 upset of the Barbara Fritchie
Edward Seltzer and Beverly Anderson s homebred Hibiscus Punch rolled up to dueling favorites Hello Beautiful and Dontletsweetfoolya on the far turn and cruised past once straightened for home, sprinting clear for a 41-1 upset in Saturday s $250,000 Runhappy Barbara Fritchie (G3) at Laurel Park in Maryland.
The 69th running of the Fritchie for fillies and mares 4 and older and the 45th edition of the $250,000 General George (G3) for 4-year-olds and up, both sprinting seven furlongs, co-headlined a Winter Sprintfest program of six stakes worth $900,000 in purses.
Russell Seeking First Graded Win With Hello Beautiful Sponsored by:
Hello Beautiful and Sheldon Russell win the Safely Kept by 11 1/4 lengths
With few remaining gaps on Hello Beautiful s resume, trainer Brittany Russell will seek to achieve a significant milestone for both herself and her stable star when they go up against seven rivals in Saturday s $250,000 Runhappy Barbara Fritchie (G3) at Laurel Park.
th running of the Fritchie for fillies and mares 4 and older and the 45
th edition of the $250,000 General s Stake (G3), formerly the General George, for 4-year-olds and up highlight a Winter Sprintfest program of six stakes worth $900,000 in purses. Both graded races are contested at seven furlongs.
Hello Beautiful, Dontletsweetfoolya Prep For Barbara Fritchie Matchup Sponsored by:
Hello Beautiful with jockey Sheldon Russell and trainer Brittany Russell (far left)
Multiple stakes winners Hello Beautiful and Dontletsweetfoolya set the stage for their first head-to-head matchup in the $250,000 Runhappy Barbara Fritchie (G3) Feb. 13 with sharp half-mile works over Laurel Park s main track Saturday.
The 69th running of the Fritchie for fillies and mares 4 and older and the 45th renewal of the $250,000 General s Stake (G3) for 4-year-olds and up, formerly the General George, highlight a Winter Sprintfest program offering six stakes worth $900,000 in purses.
Madaket Stables, Albert Frassetto, Mark Parkinson, K-Mac Stables and Magic City Stables Hello Beautiful was timed in 47.60 seconds, second-fastest of 68 horses at the distance. Jockey Sheldon Russell was aboard for his wife, trainer Brittany Russell.