Jevian Toledo and Brittany Russell continued their successful partnership by defending their titles as leading jockey and trainer as the Preakness meet at historic Pimlico Race Course drew to a close June 4.
Toledo went winless with his two mounts Sunday, finishing with a comfortable 10-victory margin over co-runners-up Sheldon Russell, Horacio Karamanos, and Victor Carrasco, 19-9.
Toledo, 28, earned eight of his wins, along with one second and three thirds, from 19 mounts for Russell at the 15-day meet, which opened May 11. He ranked second with nearly $700,000 in purse earnings behind only Hall of Famer John Velazquez, who won the Preakness Stakes (G1) with National Treasure .
"It feels great. I'm just blessed that God gave me the good health to be here," Toledo said. "My agent does a great job, and big thanks to all the trainers and owners that give the opportunity to ride their horses. I really appreciate all the help that I've been given this meet."
Toledo registered at least one win on each of the first eight racing days during the meet, including a triple May 18. He doubled on Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) Day May 19 aboard Russell-trained horses Royal Whisper and S. Muffin, and also rode Be Better to victory for Russell and owner Repole Stable on Preakness Day, May 20.
Toledo won on 12 of 15 race days, including another hat trick June 3 and doubles May 27 and 29. The state's overall leading rider in 2015, 2017, 2021, and 2022 is approaching 1,500 career wins. He now owns 11 titles in Maryland, nine at Laurel Park.
Brittany Russell, 33, did not have a starter on Sunday and ended with 15 wins from 42 starters (36%) and $592,630 in earnings, second to Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, largely thanks to his record eighth Preakness victory.
It is the fourth training title for Russell, who led Laurel's 2022 spring and fall stands and tied for first at last year's Preakness meet. She got off to a fast start with wins on each of the first seven race days, including triples May 14 and 19.
"It's great. You do it once, and you hope you can do it again," Russell said. "It's awesome, but my team is amazing. We have more horses now. You win and it just seems like we get more on our plate every time. Whenever it seems like we do something better it becomes more work and more horses, things like that. My team, it's just so fun to watch what they've done."
Along with Royal Whisper and S. Muffin, Russell's Black-Eyed Susan Day included an eye-catching allowance victory by 3-year-old Fort Warren, who is being pointed to the June 10 Woody Stephens (G1) at Belmont Park.
Russell owns 310 wins since 2018, including her first grade 1 with Doppelganger in the April 8 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack with Toledo aboard. Doppelganger is scheduled to make his next start in the June 10 Met Mile (G1) at Belmont. Russell leads all trainers in Maryland this year with 52 wins from 192 starters (27%).
Stuart Grant's The Elkstone Group was the Preakness meet's leading owner with seven wins.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
