As 2022 comes to a close, Brittany Russell is looking to make history.
The Laurel Park-based trainer has already reached career highs with 442 starters, 98 Wins and $4.3 million dollars in purse earnings.
She became just the fourth woman to Win a meet title in Maryland at the spring meet at Laurel.
It just so happened the mother of two clinched that honor on Mother’s Day – and the first to do it twice when she led the standings during the Preakness meet at historic Pimlico Race Course.
Now, the 32-year-old Pennsylvania native is poised to take it one step further.
She is not only on the verge of securing her third meet championship at Laurel’s calendar-year ending fall stand but becoming the first woman to finish the year as the state’s leading trainer.
At the Christmas break. Russell had 28 Wins at Laurel fall, seven more than runner-up Jamie Ness with three racing days remaining-December 29th-31st.
For the overall Maryland trainer title her 72 Wins from 297 starters are just two fewer than five-time defending champion Claudio Gonzalez (74-371). Ness sits third with 70 Wins.
Russell’s introduction to horses came at a young age while working at local farms growing up in Peach Bottom, Pa.
After a brief stint riding amateur races she turned to training, working for such horsemen as Jonathan Sheppard, Brad Cox, Jimmy Jerkens and Ron Moquett before going out on her own, Winning with her first starter, OH MY, February 25th, 2018 at Laurel.
Her breakthrough year came in pandemic-shortened 2020 when she Won 46 of 159 starters and surpassed the $1 million mark in season earnings for the first time.
Russell went 71-for-274 last year, topping $2.8 million in purses earned and Winning her first Graded-Stakes, the Bold Ruler (G3) at Aqueduct with WONDRWHERECRAIGIS on the day before her son was born.
Said Russell; “The female trainer thing, I get it, but I think it’s more about being a mom,” she added. “I wanted to train and I wanted to do what I’m doing, but I also wanted to have children. I didn’t know how difficult it would be until we were in it, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything now. We’re going to hopefully keep this good thing rolling and my kids can grow up and be part of it if they want to.”
Best of luck these last three days Brittany, we’ll be on the lookout for your horses.
