Mid-Atlantic racing roundup, October 9

Adventist won the Greenwood Cup. Photo by Bill Denver /EQUI-PHOTO.

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

Here’s your five-minute read to get caught up on all of it:

LAUREL PARK

• Trainer Mike Trombetta won three races on Thursday afternoon. He took the first race with Brokers Reward, who closed from well out of it to win by 1 ½ lengths under Jorge Vargas. He then swept the early double with Julian Pimentel-ridden Day the Music Died. Trombetta completed his set when Street Copper won a photo in race 4, getting up with Daniel Centeno aboard over Dover Cliffs.
• Zorally turned in an impressive performance to win Friday’s third race, a n/w2x allowance optional claiming for fillies and mares sprinting on the dirt. She briefly battled for the lead with Discreet Deceit, before clearing to the lead by the opening quarter. Turning for home, Zorally pulled away from her rivals to win by an impressive 8 ¾ lengths. She went six furlongs in an impressive 1:09.98. This Maryland-bred filly is owned by Steven Newby, trained by Dale Capuano, and was ridden by Sheldon Russell.
• Trevor McCarthy sits atop the jockey standings, with 15 wins, but Russell remains hot on his heels, with 13 victories. After a strong start, Julio Correa is in third place with 10 wins.
• Trombetta’s hat trick put him alone in second place in the trainer race, with eight wins. However, Claudio Gonzalez’s ten victories keeps him in first place.

CHARLES TOWN RACES

MONMOUTH PARK/MEADOWLANDS

• Paco Lopez had a big day on Sunday at Monmouth Park, with four winners. He won the third race with Jersey-bred veteran Banana Anna, the 1-2 favorite. Following that, he tied for the victory in race 5 aboard Fratello Del Nord, then prevailed by a nose with Best Choice in race 6. Lopez completed the four-bagger with a desperate victory riding heavy favorite Homeboy in race 9.
• New Jersey John won the feature race on opening week at the Meadowlands, a n/w1x allowance at 1 mile on Saturday. He rated in the garden spot off loose leader Victory Chimes, then pounced on the turn when that rival faltered. Despite the rallies of Atta Kid and Desperado, New Jersey John held on for the half-length victory. The winner is owned and trained by Michael Dini, while Jomar Torres picked up his second winner of the afternoon with that victory.
• Nik Juarez continues to hold a narrow advantage n the jockey standings, with 104 wins, compared to Paco Lopez’s 103. Jorge Navarro is well out in front of the trainer standings, having 65 wins to his credit.

PARX RACING

• Parx hosted a trio of stakes races this week. Saturday’s Grade 3 Greenwood Cup, at 1 1/2 miles, looked like a two horse race on paper. Marathon specialist Marconi was sent off as the 3-5 favorite in the 12-furlong affair, while venerable War Story was the 6-5 second choice. However, 50/1 Adventist spoiled the party, pulling off a shocking upset. John Bisono rated him at the back of the pack early on, then ranged up alongside the two favorites on the final turn. Turning for home, neither one could keep up, and Adventist drew off to a three-length win. This was his second win of the year from thirteen starts, all of which have come at Parx. He’s owned by Bleu Max Stable and trained by Uriah St. Lewis.
• Nay Lady Nay prevailed in Monday’s Parx Fall Oaks. Coming off a second-place finish in an allowance race at Belmont Park, she was made the 6/5 favorite in the 1 mile grass contest. 15/1 Jabuticaba threatened to pull off a big upset, as she opened up a clear early lead and was still in front turning for home. In the last eighth, Nay Lady Nay rolled five-wide in the stretch and got up to win by 2 ½ lengths. She’s owned by First Row Partners and Hidden Brook Farm, trained by Chad Brown, and ridden by Paco Lopez.
• Virginia Derby winner English Bee continued an impressive three-year-old season on Tuesday, winning the Parx Fall Derby by a neck. The Last Zip, with Trevor McCarthy aboard, set the early pace, and tried to pull off a wire job late with a clear lead in the late stages. English Bee kept on coming in the stretch, however, and prevailed by a neck. That was his third stakes win of the season; he also has the James Murphy Stakes on his resume. The winner carried the colors of Calumet Farm, is trained by Graham Motion, and was piloted to victory by Jorge Vargas, Jr..
• Frankie Pennington won four races this week, extending his lead in the jockey standings. He’s got 111 wins, compared to the 108 of Mychel Sanchez. 
• Joseph Taylor is still in front in the trainer race, with 74 wins. Scott Lake is a clear-cut second, with 57 triumphs.

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