Longshots Are Now Favorites at Laurel

LAUREL, Md. — Sillery and defending champion Leariva, both long shots in last year’s Washington International, will head a foreign contingent in today’s 41st running of the historic turf event at Laurel Race Course.

Leariva came from off the pace as a 44-1 shot last year. The French mare, now a 5-year-old, stormed past Sillery in the stretch to win the 1 1/4-mile Grade I race.

Sillery, a French colt, was fifth choice among the bettors last year.

This year, Laurel oddsmakers have made them the top two picks in a field of eight. Sillery is the morning line favorite at 5-2; Leariva is at 3-1.

The oddsmakers’ third choice is the 5-year-old Zoman from Britain, listed at 4-1. He was third last year.

Trainer John Russell has shipped Stark South in from Southern California for the race, after paying the supplemental entry fee of $30,000 for the $750,000 race.

“I don’t know how confident I am, but looking at this field, I must be very brave,” said Russell, whose 4-year-old colt has been in the money in five of his six starts this year. Stark South is listed at 8-1.