Mid-Atlantic Three Stars: May 6 * The Racing Biz

MID-ATLANTIC THREE STARS: may 6

John Piassek
May 6, 2024

Plenty of racing action took place throughout the Mid-Atlantic this past week.

Here’s a look at the “three stars” of each track:

Region’s Best

Gray Lightning #2 ridden by Jorge Vargas, Jr., rewards new owners NR Club with a resounding 12 1/4-length victory in an allowance race on April 29, 2024 at Parx Racing in Bensalem, Pa. NR Club purchased the PA-Bred filly for $370,000 during Fasig-Tipton’s April 2024 Digital Sale. Gray Lightning previously raced for her breeder, Desmond Wynter. Vargas retained the mount from her last start – a 14 1/2-length allowance win – and Tyler Servis has trained Gray Lightning since her emphatic debut last November. Photo by Nikki Sherman/EQUI-PHOTO.

FIRST STAR: GRAY LIGHTNING. Monday’s feature at Parx was a Pennsylvania-bred allowance contest for fillies and mares going 5 1/2 furlongs. Gray Lightning, purchased for $370,000 by NR Club at the Fasig-Tipton April 2024 Digital Sale, broke on top and never looked back from there, drawing off to win by 12 1/4 lengths. She ran the distance over a fast track in 1:05.09, and improved to 3-1-0 from four starts, with earnings of $101,320. She’s 2-for-2 on the year, having won those races by a combined 26 3/4 lengths. She was originally campaigned by her breeder Desmond Wynter, and was ridden by Jorge Vargas Jr. for trainer Tyler Servis.

SECOND STAR: HAPPY CLOUDS. A field of open allowance fillies and mares headlined Charles Town’s Saturday card. Lightnin Runner, off a win in the Original Gold Stakes last out, went off as the 1-5 favorite, and took control early on in the 6 1/2-furlong contest. Happy Clouds rated just off her, and took control in the stretch to win by three-quarters of a length. She’s now 6-6-3 in 20 career starts, with earnings of $213,067. She’s owned by Timothy Freitag, trained by Ryan Gillespie, and ridden by Arnaldo Bocachica.

THIRD STAR: TREBLE CLEF. Wednesday’s Parx feature was a first-level race for 3-year-olds at a mile and 70 yards. Treble Clef earned his second win in his last three starts, prevailing by 1 1/4 lengths under Silvestre Gonzalez. He drafted just off a three-way peace battle, then struck the front in the stretch and drew off late. He’s won two of his last three starts for owner Pewter Stable and Anthony Coppola and trainer Kate Demasi.

Laurel Park

Seize the Grey takes initiative in Preakness upset
Seize the Grey gave trainer D. Wayne Lukas his seventh Preakness victory as Derby day runners took the top three spots at PImlico.

FIRST STAR: J.G. TORREALBA. Turned in a pair of two-win days last Saturday to clinch the spring meet riding title.

SECOND STAR: OUR STRONG VOWS. Made her first start since October a winning one, getting up to win a starter optional claiming race Friday.

THIRD STAR: HELMS DEEP. Led every step to take a starter optional claiming contest Sunday, for his first victory of the year in his sixth start of the campaign.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: HAPPY CLOUDS. This win could set her up for a nice year against these types at Charles Town.

SECOND STAR: LADY RAMBO. Went gate-to-wire against West Virginia-bred allowance foes Saturday, improving to 2-for-3 lifetime.

THIRD STARS: ORLANDO BOCACHICA AND ARNALDO BOCACHICA. Both turned a hat trick on the week: Orlando on Thursday, Arnaldo on Saturday.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR: GRAY LIGHTNING. This filly could be on the road to stardom following two big wins.

SECOND STAR: TREBLE CLEF. Sat the trip and got up; also looks like a promising young runner.

THIRD STAR: DANCING ON MY OWN. Led all the way to take a mile and 70-yard Pennsylvania-bred allowance contest Wednesday.

Big Big Star, the win, the layoff, and the race that wasn’t
Big Big Star broke his maiden Sunday at Laurel Park for trainer Keri Brion off officially a 27-month layoff, though it’s actually a bit more complicated.