Mid-Atlantic Three Stars: November 24
Hugh McMahon won his 1,000th race on Sunday. Photo: Jim McCue/MJC
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: GALERIO. This 4-year-old Maryland-bred gelding has had an astounding campaign, racking up eight wins from twelve starts on the year. He continued his dominant run on Saturday, taking a n/w2x allowance by 1 3/4 lengths. As the slight 2/1 favorite in the field of seven, he stalked the pace, then moved towards the lead on the inside. After drawing clear in the stretch, he held on to win, covering the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.21. He is not nominated for next Saturday’s Richard Small Stakes (although his stablemate Harpers First Ride is), but the Native Dancer Stakes, on December 26, may be on his radar.
- SECOND STARS: HUGH MCMAHON. A Maryland mainstay, McMahon got his 1,000th career training win in Sunday’s sixth race. He had to sweat it out, as Polished Gal won by a nose over Splendor Gal and Gottaflathaveher. McMahon began his training career in 2005, and was the leading trainer in Maryland in 2013. This year, he’s won 33 races from 206 starters, and is currently in fourth place in the Laurel training standings, with nine wins.
- THIRD STAR: NOMO RON. Thursday’s feature, a n/w2x allowance sprint, went to Nomo Ron, with a dramatic stretch rally. The 2/1 favorite sat at the back of the seven-horse field early on, watching an opening quarter of 22.22 seconds and a half mile in 45.11 seconds in front of him. As they turned for home, he swung six-wide, then powered past his rivals to cross the wire a length in front. He covered the six furlongs in 1:09.93, for owner James Wolf, trainer Anthony Farrior, and jockey Sheldon Russell.
CHARLES TOWN RACES
- FIRST STAR: LOVELY LADY LEXI. She brought her talents back to Charles Town on Thursday night, in a starter optional claiming affair. She did not disappoint, winning her fourth in a row by two lengths. Gerald Almodovar had her in mid-pack early on, then moved her wide on the final turn. Although Super Twenty Five had a clear lead turning for home, Lovely Lady Lexi ran her down and won by two lengths. She’s owned by Moshe Mark and trained by Kieron Magee.
- SECOND STAR: PHONEMYPOSSEAGAIN. A West Virginia veteran, he won his fourth race of the year on Friday. Sent off as the slight 5/2 favorite in a starter optional claiming race, he broke on top in the 4 1/2 furlong race, and scampered away to win by 2 3/4 lengths. Last year, he won eight races in a row, before having his streak snapped in the Gold Watch Stakes in February. In his career, he’s won sixteen times from thirty eight starts. He’s owned by Diamond Oak Stable, trained by Kevin Patterson, and ridden by Gerald Almodovar.
- THIRD STAR: CAMPY CASH. Saturday’s feature saw an upset. Bridging the Gap, off four straight wins, including one in the West Virginia Cavada Breeders’ Classic, was the 1/2 favorite. After getting pressure on the lead, she had no response for the closing rally of Campy Cash. That filly drew off to win by 6 1/4 lengths, covering the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:18.54. She’s now won two in a row, and has hit the board in all six starts at Charles Town this year. Arnaldo Bocachica was in the saddle, for trainer Jeff Runco and owner Vince Campanella.
PARX RACING
- FIRST STAR: GUADALUPE PRECIADO. Parx was the site of another training milestone last Monday, as Guadalupe Preciado won his 2,000th race. Chub Wagon crushed the field in the fourth race, winning by 7 1/2 lengths under jockey Jomar Torres. Preciado began training in the United States in 1989, and has been a Parx mainstay for years. He was inducted into the track’s Hall of Fame in 2013. Preciado added another win on Wednesday, as The Robert won the eighth race.
- SECOND STAR: SHARE THE RIDE. Off a runner-up finish in the Bold Ruler Stakes at Belmont Park, this gelding was sent off as the 6/5 favorite in an open allowance race on Wednesday. He lived up to the hype, crushing the field by 7 1/2 lengths. He sat just off a fairly moderate early tempo, then moved for the lead entering the stretch and drew clear. On the year, he’s now won three times from eight starts, while earning $175,000. He’s owned by Silvino Ramirez, trained by Miguel Penaloza, and ridden by Jomar Torres.
- THIRD STAR: THISCATCANJUMP. Monday’s feature, a n/w2x allowance going long, went to this Pennsylvania-bred gelding, in his first win of the year. He saved ground off a fast pace, then moved on the inside and drew off to win by 1 3/4 lengths. He was one of three winners for Frankie Pennington on the program. Richard Malouf is the winning owner, Scott Lake the winning trainer.
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