[boxify cols_use =”3″ cols =”5″ position =”right” order =”none” box_spacing =”5″ padding =”5″ background_color =”white” border_width =”2″ border_color =”blue” border_style =”solid” height =”1155″ ]Region’s stakes winners ($50,000 purse and up)

  • Laurel Futurity (LRL) – Yes I’m Lucky, trainer Edward Plesa Jr., owner Trilogy Stable and Laurie Plesa
  • Jameela S. – MD-bred (LRL) – Madame Giry, trainer Cam Gambolati, owner Nutmeg Stable, bred in Maryland by Raintree Thoroughbred Farm Inc.
  • Selima S. (LRL) – Aibhilin, trainer Cathal Lynch, owner David and Margaret Wimer
  • Lady Baltimore S. (LRL) – Strathnaver, trainer Graham Motion, owner Andrew Stone
  • Laurel Dash (LRL) – Ben’s Cat, trainer King Leatherbury, owner The Jim Stable, bred in Maryland by K.T. Leatherbury Associates Inc.
  • Laurel Turf Cup (LRL) – Tricky Hat, trainer Shug McGaughey, owners Andrew Rosen, Robert Trussell, and Gainesway Stable
  • Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash – Immortal Eyes, trainer Damon Dilodovico, owner Robert Abbo Racing Stable LLC
  • Rachel’s Turn S. – WV-bred (CT) – Nana Anna, trainer Wesley Ward, owner Norah B Stable LLC, bred in West Virginia by Norah B Stable LLC
  • Henry Mercer Memorial S. – WV-bred (CT) – Amherst Street, trainer Javier Contreras, owner Phyllis M. Susini LLC, bred in West Virginia by James Casey
  • Pink Ribbon S. (CT) – Wardelle, trainer Dimitrios Syneffias, owner Peter Kazamias, bred in Virginia by Audley Farm
  • Wild and Wonderful S. (CT) – Lucy’s Bob Boy, trainer Sandra Dono, owner Michael Furr, bred in West Virginia by Robert Furr Sr.
  • Researcher S. (CT) – Take It Like a Man, trainer Kellyn Gorder, owners Lynn and Lola Cash
  • Charles Town Oaks (CT) — So Many Ways, trainer Tom Amoss, owner Maggi Moss, bred in Pennsylvania by John R. Penn and John C. Penn
  • It’s Only Money S. – WV-bred (CT) – Greenway Court, trainer James Casey, owner Taylor Mountain Farm, bred in West Virginia by James Casey
  • Jersey Girl H. – NJ-bred (MTH) – Princess Perfect, trainer Claudio Gonzalez, owner Somraj Singh, bred in New Jersey by Quiet Winter Farm
  • New Jersey Breeders H. – NJ-bred (MTH) – Geeky Gorgeous, trainer Daniel Lopez, owner Daniel Lopez, bred in New Jersey by Joe-Dan Farm
  • Charles Hesse III H. – NJ-bred (MTH) – Sierra Ancha, trainer Edward Barney, owner Ramona Barney, bred in New Jersey by Ramona Barney
  • Alphabet Soup H. – PA-bred (PRX) – Roadhog, trainer Elizabeth Merryman, owner Ellendale Racing, bred in Pennsylvania by Ellendale Racing LLC
  • Gallant Bob S.-G3 (PRX) – City of Weston, trainer Antonio Sano, owner Cloud Nine Lumoni
  • Cotillion S. – G1 (PRX) – Close Hatches, trainer William Mott, owner Juddmonte Farms Inc.
  • Pennsylvania Derby – G2 (PRX) – Will Take Charge, trainer D. Wayne Lukas, owner Willis Horton
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In our LookBack, we follow up on some of last week’s top stories, plus some other notes of interest…

  • What a weekend in the mid-Atlantic!  Laurel Park‘s De Francis card included a half-dozen other stakes and some truly satisfying outcomes.  Hard-knocking Immortal Eyes upset the big race with a front-running score, which led to a nice post-race scene, with owner Bobby Abbo nearly overcome by emotion at the victory.  The fabulous Ben’s Cat recorded his 18th stakes victory with a narrow win the Laurel Dash, and Aibhilin — whose name is Gaelic for “little bird” — flew to a triumph in the Selima for Cal Lynch’s 500th win as a trainer.  A sizable crowd enjoyed the day, and though the rains came, they came later in the day and the grass races remained on the green.
  • Over at Charles Town, the track for the first time ran its two big sprints for sophomores — the Charles Town Oaks and the newly christened Researcher (formerly the Red Legend) — on the same evening.  That appeared to be a winning strategy, with handle up 16 percent from last year’s Oaks night.  The Oaks-winning owner and trainer couldn’t manage to attend the race, but the happy scene following the Researcher more than made up for it.  Trainer Kellyn Gorder and (especially) owners Lynn and Lola Cash made plenty of noise in the winners circle and more than enjoyed what turned out to be the first stake win of the Cashes’ owning career.  Popular local star Lucy’s Bob Boy scored in open company, taking the Wild and Wonderful for owner Michael Furr and trainer Sandra Dono, and he’s on track for next month’s West Virginia Breeders Classics.
  • At Parx Moreno and Will Take Charge reprised their Travers battle in the Pennsylvania Derby, but unlike the earlier race, in which Will Take Charge ran down his rival on the line, this time Will Take Charge surged to command in mid-stretch and won impressively by a couple.  In the Grade 1 Cotillion, Close Hatches proved much the best over previously unbeaten Sweet Lulu.  And in the G3 Gallant Bob, rank  outsider City of Weston surged late to score a 30-1 upset.
  • Bowie-trained Dance to Bristol loomed a threat at the head of the lane in Belmont’s G2 Gallant Bloom, but she proved no match for the unbeaten Cluster of Stars, who drew off to a five-length victory.  The defeat snapped a seven-race winning streak for Dance to Bristol.
  • The hold order on Barn 16 at Bowie remains in place.  A preliminary test for equine herpesvirus on the euthanized filly came back negative, and a final determination is expected by Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning.  Only once the all-clear is given will the hold order be lifted.

(Featured image, of Immortal Eyes winning the De Francis, by Laurie Asseo.)