Wait Till Monday Scores Upset in Russell Handicap at Santa Anita

Wait Till Monday, a 23-to-1 shot, won Wednesday’s $84,650 Henry P. Russell Handicap, giving jockey Rick Dominguez his first stakes victory at Santa Anita.

Wait Till Monday stalked pacesetter Trokhos to the final turn, then moved in tandem with Havildar and reached the lead turning for home. The trio battled through the final 3 furlongs, with Wait Till Monday winning by a head and Havildar getting second, three-quarters of a length ahead of Trokhos.

Wait Till Monday covered the 1 miles on the turf in 2:01 and returned $48.20, $18.20 and $8 to his supporters in the crowd of 15,412.

Wait Till Monday recorded his third straight victory, a string that began at Del Mar in September when trainer Victor Garcia claimed the 4-year-old colt for $10,000. Wait Till Monday earned $50,900 with his victory Wednesday.

Patchy Groundfog, the slight 3-1 favorite, finished seventh, while the entry of Forlitano and Glad Music, also sent off at 3-1, ran fifth and sixth, respectively.