Mid-Atlantic Three Stars: November 10

 Wicked Awesome, shown here at Laurel in September, won at Parx last Wednesday. Photo: Jim Duley

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

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

LAUREL PARK

• FIRST STAR: TRUNK OF MONEY. Sunday’s feature, a n/w2x allowance race for sprinting fillies and mares, came right down to the wire. Trunk of Money, a speedy Delawarean, opened up a clear lead in the stretch, and held on for the victory over the surging Deep Red. The 9/2 shot came in off two consecutive wins at Delaware, setting the pace both times. Here, she dueled through fast fractions, but had enough for the end. Alex Crispin was in the saddle, for owner Richard Malouf and trainer Scott Lake.
• SECOND STAR: GALE. Another promising Maryland-bred filly has made her way onto the scene. This Jonathan Thomas trainee smoked a n/w1x Maryland-bred field on Thursday, winning by 13 1/2 lengths. Sent off as the 3/1 second choice, Sheldon Russell sent her out to a clear lead in the early stages of the one-mile contest. No one gave her a serious challenge, and she cruised to the win, going the mile in 1:34.97. She’s now won twice in her three-race career, and looks to have a bright future ahead of her. She’s owned by Bridlewood Farm, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and Robert LaPenta.
• THIRD STAR: ALWAYSINAHURRY. Tate was sent away as the favorite in Saturday’s feature, a n/w1x allowance for 2-year-olds. However, the locally-based Alwaysinahurry upset the Keeneland shipper by a neck. He came up the inside in the stretch, after rating off the pace, getting up over the wide-rallying Tate. Alwaysinahurry was most recently second in the Maryland Million Nursery, and has now hit the board in five of seven lifetime. He’s owned by Mopo Racing, trained by Dale Capuano, and ridden by Alex Cintron.

CHARLES TOWN RACES

 PARX RACING

• FIRST STAR: WICKED AWESOME. This Ferris Allen-trained mare won her fifth start of the year last Wednesday, prevailing in an open allowance by a neck. Although she prevailed as the 1/2 favorite, she made her backers sweat for the win. She sat mid-pack early on in the ne-mile contest, then closed in the stretch to chase down leader Hey Mamaluke. The two battled in the stretch, but Wicked Awesome got up in the end. She’s now won three races in a row, beginning her streak with a win in the Twixt Stakes at Laurel Park in September. Warwick Stable is the winning owner, Frankie Pennington the winning jockey. 
• SECOND STAR: PORTAL CREEK. Monday’s feature, a n/w2x allowance optional claiming race at a mile, went to Portal Creek, for his fourth win of the year. He set the pace early on, then encountered a challenge from Flashndynamite as they turned for home. Portal Creek managed to hold off his rival, winning by 3/4 of a length. He covered the mile in 1:39.42, for owner Ten Strike Racing, trainer Juan Guerrero, and jockey Ruben Silvera.
• THIRD STAR: LOVE IS YOUR NAME. While two of last week’s feature races saw the favorite win, this Jersey-bred gelding won Tuesday’s feature in a 24/1 upset. He rated in third, just off the pace, in the early stages of the seven-furlong contest. Turning for home, he drew alongside favored Arkaan, then oulled clear to win by 4 3/4 lengths in 1:23.66. Of his eight career wins, six have come at Parx. He’s owned by Silvino Ramirez, trained by Miguel Penaloza, and was ridden by Edwin Rivera.

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