Yedsit Hazlewood notched another achievement in his young career, winning the Laurel Park Spring Meet riding title by two wins over fellow apprentice Jose Vargas.
Hazlewood, who also won two races at Laurel Park on Friday, finished with 17 wins during the spring meet. Sheldon Russell and Forest Boyce tied for third, each with nine wins.
Originally from Panama, Hazlewood, 18, missed a couple of months due to injuries from an automobile accident, yet still achieved 137 victories in 2025, earning $4,451,869.
He earned his first riding title last summer at the Maryland State Fair Meet in Timonium and dominated the standings at the Laurel Park Fall Meeting.
Hazlewood also earned year-end honors as Maryland's winningest jockey and currently leads the 2026 national standings in total winners.
Agent John DiNitale represents Hazlewood.
Trainer Brittany Russell, Maryland’s champion trainer for the past three years, won 11 races at the Spring stand, three more than Jamie Ness.
Annette Eubanks, Gary Capuano, John Salzman Jr., and Michael Trombetta each won five races.
Brittany Russell, married to jockey Sheldon Russell, often celebrates in the winner's circle with their daughter Edy and son Rye. The 36-year-old trainer is optimistic about the upcoming Preakness meet, especially since the undefeated Taj Mahal is expected to be a leading contender in next Saturday’s Preakness Stakes, the second race in the Triple Crown series.
The Russell barn has won at least 100 races each of the past four years, and the stable has earned at least $7.5 million annually over the past three seasons.
She has won six graded stakes, including two with Maryland-bred Post Time, who captured the General George and Carter Stakes in 2024 and finished a gallant second in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar.
This story was originally published by Paulick Report on May 8, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
