Despite Previous Disqualification, ‘Rookie Racehorse’ With $500,670 in Career Earnings Aims for a Second Shot at Prestigious Equestrian Venue

Sometimes a hurdle proves to be just too high to overcome. However, victory goes to the ones who persevere. Coming back to finally win an elusive race fair-and-square, this racehorse would like to settle the score once and for all. The six-year-old racehorse will return to the esteemed equestrian event a third time. The gelding is currently a rookie with just 17 races under its belt. However, it has already proven that it can easily pull its own weight in any competition. 

Wondrwherecraigis has set its sight set on the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash Stakes. Appearing in the equestrian event for the third consecutive year, the gelding looks very strong this year. The race will be held on 29th July 2023 at Laurel Park and will grant $150,000 to the winner.

Always the second favorite

Brittany Russel trains Wondrwherecraigis. Despite a small career, the racehorse has already reached a net worth of $500,670. Wondrwherecraigis had won the equestrian event by ¾ lengths back in 2021. However, it was later disqualified on the grounds of interference after drifting out in the deep stretch. He was the second favorite to win the race back then and raced on its trainers’ home turf. While Wondrwherecraigis failed to secure a win in this race, it bounced back and won its next race, the Grade 3 Bold Ruler Handicap at Belmont Park. 

Competing at the equestrian event the last time, it lost by a huge margin of 2 ¾ lengths. At the time, Wondrwherecraigis had gone 113 days without racing after returning from a trip to Dubai. As mentioned earlier, Laurel Park is the home turf of its trainer, Brittany Russel. Barring the De Francis Memorial races, Wondrwherecraigis has a 4-0 track record at the racetrack. This also includes his win at the 2022 Fire Plug Stakes.

This year, Wondrwherecraigis has not participated in any race for 71 days before making a run for the De Francis Memorial Stakes. The six-year-old son of Munnings started the year with a dazzling victory back on 13th April. The Elkstone Group owns Wondrwherecraigis. Stuart Grant of the Elkstone Group commented on the rising rookie prospect, with Bloodhorse. “Just when you think that’s it, he hasn’t run as well as we’ve seen him run in the past, or he’s not training that well, he fires off a bullet and wins a race,” said Grant. 

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Grant said he has quit trying to figure out the nature of Wondrwherecraigis. Grant also said, “He’s been a very, very good horse to us and we’re just going to keep him happy and keep him running and, when it’s finally time to call it quits, we will take good care of him the rest of his life.” In its short career, the equestrian racehorse has won eight races and came second in three of them. It has made just 17 career starts so far. Like always, the competition won’t be easy, but the third time may be the charm for the promising rookie.

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