Complexity Jane keeps it simple in Thirty Eight Go Go * The Racing Biz

Laurel Park’s main trainer Brittany Russell had piloted four horses to unremarkable finishes Sunday afternoon, none better than fourth.

Luckily for her, she still had one bat in the bag.

Complexity Jane, the 3-year-old Complexity filly she trains for Michael Golden’s Golden Lion Racing, saved the day with a dominant 3 ¼ length victory against older rivals in the $100,000 Thirty Eight Go Go Stakes. It was the second victory in Complexity Jane’s career; she also won the Weber City Miss in April over the strip.

Overall Complexity Jane has four wins from six career starts, and the winner’s share pushed her bankroll above $210,000.

Complexity Jane paid $7.80 to win as second choice at 2.90-1 in the field of seven. The exacta, with 7-1 Doctor Abbie underneath, returned $32.30 for a one dollar bet.

Following her Weber City Miss win, things had gone somewhat sideways for Complexity Jane. She threw out rider Sheldon Russell and was in first place for the Hilltop Stakes in May at Pimlico. She then finished eighth in the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks and a distant fifth in the Tyson Gilpin at Colonial Downs.

Today she went to post with blinders on for the first time.

“I didn’t see this theory of the blinders,” said Sheldon Russell. “When I told Brittany that, she told me she had had them for a while [in the mornings]… We were hoping it would be a comfort to her, rather than trying to show more speed.”

When the gates opened, Di’s Surprise, making her first start since April, was fastest at the stroke under jockey Yedsit Hazlewood, although ‘fastest’ is a relative term: the first quarter-mile was an ice-cold 24.99 seconds, with the half going in 49.54.

Russell, meanwhile, had Complexity Jane perfectly poised, just outside the leader and, remarkably, a few lengths clear of the others.

“I always say, if we can’t sit outside one horse, we don’t deserve to win,” Sheldon Russell said. “So my plan was always to let the five go.”

Complexity Jane had a head lead after half a mile, and after 45 minutes it was already half a length in 1:14.03, with Di’s Surprise her closest pursuer. And yet none of the others took up a challenge.

“When you go that slow, you have those closers making that early move, and that’s what I was afraid of, you know what I mean?” said Sheldon Russell. “Because I don’t think she’s one to splash out. I think she’s having a rough run.”

Complexity Jane entered the section in full flight and pulled away until the last margin of 3 ¼ lengths. Doctor Abbie, sixth out of seven early, moved into second place, while Backstretch, who was last after three quarters, took third place. DI’s Surprise faded to fourth, while favorite Sheilah’s Warcloud finished fourth after time.

The beautiful Blome and Navani completed the finishing order.

“I couldn’t be happier for Mike [Golden]Sheldon Russell said. ‘He’s a good friend of ours. He has put some nice horses in the stable, and he has earned this one.”