The word was out on Golden Lion Racing’s Complexity Jane heading into Saturday’s sixth race at Laurel Park, a $47,000 maiden special weight contest for three-year-old fillies.

And the word was definitely right.

Complexity Jane, a Complexity filly whom track announcer Dave Rodman called the “buzz horse” prior to the race, lived up to the hype with a good-looking rallying score, shooting up the rail under jockey Sheldon Russell to win by 3 ¼ lengths.

Running time for six furlongs on a sluggish track rated muddy and sealed was 1:14.34. Off as the even money favorite, Complexity Jane returned $4.20 to win, defeating 3-1 Passage East and 7-2 Mo Hype.

“First time out and she did it the hard way, too,” said Golden Lion’s Michael Golden, who also is the president of Northview Stallion Station.

She did, indeed. Complexity Jane got banged by a rival leaving the gate, which left her towards the rear of the field: not exactly the place to be on a day when four of the first five winners led every step of the way.

“This track was definitely a speed bias, and when she didn’t break well, I thought, ‘Oh,’” Golden said with a shrug afterwards.

Sheldon Russell handled his mount patiently, mostly saving ground around the turn while picking off a couple of rivals. Once the rail opened up in the stretch, Complexity Jane moved through the hole readily and proved much the best.

Complexity Jane was bred in Kentucky by Brereton Jones. Golden picked her up for $170,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales two-year-olds in training sale this past March.

“[Northview general manager] David Wade and I were down there looking, and she was one of the top fillies on the list that we liked, and we got her,” said trainer Brittany Russell, Sheldon Russell’s wife. “I couldn’t believe it. Honestly, I was pumped; out of all of them, she was the one I wanted.”

Complexity Jane trained steadily towards a career debut in June and July, but after a September 8 breeze disappeared from the worktab until mid-December.

“She always showed talent,” Russell said. “She’s a big filly and needed some time. It was that simple.”

That and the tough start made it seem that Complexity Jane’s graduation day might be further delayed. But once she got rolling, she showed plenty of class and plenty of ability.

“She overcame it, and hopefully she’ll have a nice, bright future,” Golden said.

NOTES The win was one of three Russell family maiden wins on the day. In the lid-lifter, Lifting, a $260,000 yearling purchase owned by Repole Stable, made his career bow for a $20,000 tag and won by 15 ¼ lengths. He was claimed by Kieron Magee for owner John J. Reilly. In the nightcap, they struck again with Derz Smart, an 11 ½-length maiden special weight winner for Spendthrift Farm LLC and Big Easy Racing… Jockey Jaime Rodriguez won four on the afternoon and now has a meet-leading nine wins…

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