LRL: Taj Mahal lives up to the hype at first glance
$525k yearling overcomes slow start for decisive win
Frank Vesp- February 6, 2026
Brittany Russell looked relieved in the moments after Friday’s third race at Laurel Park.
Russell, last year’s runaway leading coach at Maryland, struggled through a winless January at Maryland, going 0-for-13, and adding three more losses on Feb. 4.
After Thursday’s Night Time Nap win and Friday’s eye-catching Taj Mahal win, it looks like the Russell shed is getting back on track.
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“These are the horses we’ve been trying to get ready to get the year going,” Russell said after Taj Mahal scored at the first ask in a $47,000 maiden special weight event. “We’ve had a few winners, but it’s been slow. Hopefully I can keep making these better ones and they keep going.”
Taj Mahal, a three-year-old Nyquist colt, cost SF Bloodstock, Starlight Racing and Madaket Stable $525,000 as a yearling, a partnership they have since expanded with several others. Initially sent to Bob Baffert in Southern California, Taj Mahal had a long series of works at Los Alamitos – stretching from April 24 to August 28 – without a start.
After coming east, Russell had his first three-furlong move on December 7 at Laurel. After half a dozen more works he was done.
“I think he got to a point where he thought, you know, he just hadn’t made any progress,” Russell said of the Taj Mahal’s long work schedule. “And when I got him, he had a little thing that we just had to take some time to work out. I’m happy [the owners] were so patient, because obviously I think he’s worth it.
He certainly was today.
Taj Mahal was sent off as the 3-2 favorite after time and got away slowly, falling a few early lengths into the field. At the front, Ballinaclash, second in back-to-back first special weight events, and Sir George, second to next-place Maryland Million Nursery winner Big Cuddle in his only previous appearance, blazed the trail through an opening quarter-mile in 23.47 seconds.
“He breaks pretty well in the morning,” Russell said. “But I saw a little bit of immaturity today, like the way he was acting. I mean, a lot of these horses here were acting a little bit childish, I think.”
However, jockey Sheldon Russell was patient and steered Taj Mahal beyond the rivals and allowed him to bring in the others on his own. By the time the field had completed the half in 47.72 seconds, the Taj Mahal was within a length and a half and had plenty of momentum.
He took the lead in the upper section and jumped away easily as Sir George gave a willing but futile pursuit. Taj Mahal won by 4 ¼ lengths in 1:12.42 for six furlongs on a fast main track, with Sir George a few lengths ahead of Pont Aven in third. Early leader Ballinaclash faded to fourth.
Taj Mahal paid $5.00 to win and topped an exacta that paid $9.80 for a one dollar bet.
It’s been a tough winter for everyone in Maryland. Laurel has canceled all or most of its five cards so far, and weather has affected training on other days. But Russell gave props to the track crew for their work in the battle against Mother Nature.
“They did a great job,” she said. “We were really lucky. Some of my work was on the slower side, but we stayed on schedule pretty well.”
As for the Taj Mahal’s messy start and strong finish, Russell could afford to be philosophical.
Sheldon said [Taj Mahal] I learned something today doing that,” Russell said. “So it’s okay. I mean, you can have them as ready as you think, but you know, I didn’t expect it to break like that.
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