A patient ride, a measured early tempo and a determined response in the closing strides carried Coach Mazzula to the biggest victory of her young career on Saturday at Laurel Park, where the Brittany Russell-trained filly narrowly held off the late challenge of favored Ultimate Love to capture the $125,000 Hilltop presented by MyRacehorse.
Hilltop Stakes results.
Making her stakes debut in the 54th running of the Hilltop for three-year-old fillies, Coach Mazzula broke sharply under Jevian Toledo and quickly moved to the front before settling comfortably through modest fractions on the firm All Along turf course. The daughter of Madaket Stables dictated proceedings from the outset and found enough in reserve late to fend off the fast-finishing Ultimate Love by a head in a dramatic finish.
The one-mile turf contest formed part of Laurel Park’s prestigious Black-Eyed Susan Day programme, which featured six stakes races worth more than $1 million in purses and was headed by the 102nd running of the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2).
Coach Mazzula stopped the clock in 1:35.52 and returned $11.20 for victory, giving Russell her third winner of the afternoon and a second consecutive stakes success following Peach Tie’s triumph in the Miss Preakness (G3).
Toledo wasted little time after the gates opened, guiding Coach Mazzula between rivals before securing control of the race entering the first turn. With Siouxse tracking on the outside and Ultimate Love positioned along the rail in third, the pace steadied considerably through an opening quarter in 24.15 seconds and a half-mile in 48.89.
That tactical advantage proved decisive.
Turning for home, Coach Mazzula accelerated impressively and opened daylight on the field approaching the stretch. Ultimate Love, making her first appearance since finishing fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) last October, angled out for a sustained run and closed relentlessly in the final furlong, but the wire arrived just in time for the leader.
Brat Pack finished third, another 1¼ lengths behind the runner-up, with Siouxse, Use Me and Unmiztaken completing the order. I Love Giraffes was withdrawn before the race.
The victory continued the steady progression of Coach Mazzula, who had never finished worse than third in six previous starts. Purchased for $125,000 at Fasig-Tipton’s Saratoga August Yearling Sale in 2024, she entered the Hilltop off a confidence-building allowance victory over older horses at Laurel Park in April.
That same race also featured stablemate Taj Mahal, who later secured a place in the 151st Preakness Stakes (G1) after winning the Federico Tesio Stakes.
Russell admitted before the race that controlling the pace had looked the logical strategy for Coach Mazzula, and the plan unfolded almost exactly as expected.
“That is the plan this weekend. I am just trying to do the job,” Russell said after the race. “I thought looking at the race she should go, and it was a matter of if she could hold them off. That is how she likes to run.”
She also praised Toledo’s handling of the filly during the early stages.
“I think he got her to go easy early and speed has been good on this turf course. She is a good training filly, and she likes to run along free,” Russell added.
Toledo believed the filly’s composure played a major role in her success against stronger opposition.
“She relaxed beautifully today, and when I asked her, she was there for me,” the jockey said. “We all knew Ultimate Love was the filly to beat, but my filly was very brave when she came to us late.”
Trainer Michael Trombetta was encouraged by Ultimate Love’s performance despite the narrow defeat, particularly given the filly had not raced since October.
“It was a soft pace. If he would have had a little bit more of a target, it would have helped her,” Trombetta said. “But she ran a good race. I can’t be upset with that.”
Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez echoed that view after guiding the runner-up home.
“She ran good. This moves her forward. Very good effort,” Velazquez said.
The Hilltop Stakes itself carries historical significance tied to Pimlico Race Course’s long-standing nickname, “Old Hilltop,” a reference to the large infield hill that once overlooked the famous Baltimore oval before being levelled in 1938. Pimlico is currently undergoing redevelopment.
For Brittany Russell, however, Saturday’s running may be remembered less for history and more for another polished stakes performance from a filly continuing to rise through the ranks on the Mid-Atlantic turf scene.
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