Mid-Atlantic Three Stars: January 12

by John Piassek | Jan 12, 2021 | Breaking, Racing, Regionwide, Top Stories

Dreams Untold, shown winning at Delaware Park last June, won at Parx on Tuesday. Photo: John Piassek.

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: ALEX CRISPIN. After a big opening weekend, Crispin continued his hot start last weekend. On Friday, he won four races from six mounts, for his second four-win day of the year. He won race 5 on Sue Loves Barbados, for trainer Dale Capuano, then prevailed in the 7th race on Edwin Merryman trainee Solea. He guided home Wonderwall in race 8, trained by Claudio Gonzalez, and got the grand slam in race 9 with Candygramformongo, for trainer Lacey Gaudet. As an encore, Crispin won two more races on Saturday and another two on Sunday. Through six days of the meet, Crispin already has five multi-win days, and his sixteen total wins are more than three times as many as runner-ups Johan Rosado and J.D. Acosta, who each have five.
SECOND STAR: GIFTED HEART. This Phil Schoenthal-trained filly began her 4-year-old campaign in style on Saturday, winning a n/w2x allowance optional claiming race by a length. Sent off as the 3/1 third choice, she rated in second early on, while Bunting zoomed out and set a fast pace. Victor Rosales kept his filly well off this loose leader, then began to make his move as they moved into the stretch. At the eighth pole, Bunting and Gifted Heart were side-by-side, but the latter pulled away to win by a length. She stopped the clock in 1:04.73 for 5 1/2 furlongs, for her fourth career win. She’s owned by Rashid’s Thoroughbred Racing, Linda Walls, Rick Wallace, and Kingdom Bloodstock Inc.
THIRD STAR: ROYAL NUMBER. Earlier on the Saturday card, this newly-turned three-year-old dominated a n/w1x allowance optional claiming affair by almost eight lengths. Like Gifted Heart, he sat well behind off a fast pace in the early stages of the 1 1/16 mile contest. He moved on the inside as they neared the final turn, then pulled clear for the easy win. This Maryland-bred has now won twice from five starts. He’s owned by Larry Johnson and R.D.M. Racing Stable, trained by Mike Trombetta, and ridden by Julian Pimentel.

CHARLES TOWN RACES

FIRST STAR: ARNALDO BOCACHICA. Charles Town’s leading jockey in 2020 started off 2021 on the right note. On Thursday night, he won four races on the 10-race program. He began the night with an easy win on favored Cowgirl Night in race 1, for trainer Anthony Farrior. In race 4, Bocachica picked up another win, guiding home Bubba Grump, for trainer Javier Contreras. He then teamed up with Jeff Runco in back-to-back races, prevailing in race 5 aboard Spunman, then winning the 6th race via disqualification on Devilish Beauty.
SECOND STAR: DENIS ARAUJO. Not to be outdone, Araujo also had an excellent opening weekend. He won two races on Friday’s card, then got a hat trick on the Saturday program. After a tumultuous 2020, which saw him finish fifth in the Charles Town standings, Araujo sits second in the rider standings after opening weekend.
THIRD STAR: SOUND OFF. This mid-Atlantic veteran began his 7-year-old campaign on a winning note, taking a starter allowance on Wednesday night. Sent off as the 3/5 favorite, he was well behind in the early stages of the 6 1/2 furlong contest, then was forced to make a six-wide move on the final turn. His closing bid proved successful, as he surged in the final sixteenth to win by 3/4 of a length. That’s his third victory in a row, all of which have come at Charles Town. He’s won five of his last six starts at this track. Fredy Peltroche had the winning mount, one of three victories for him on Wednesday, for owner/trainer Michael Sandoval.

PARX RACING

FIRST STAR: RUBEN SILVERA. After a strong 2020 season at Parx, Silvera picked up where he left off on Monday. He won four races on the 10-race program. Two of his wins came for trainer Scott Lake, as they teamed up in race 3 with Above Par, and the 10th race on Otis Otis Otis. Silvera also won race 4 on Passport Required, for trainer Louis Linder, and race 9 with Jamie Ness trainee The King Cheek.
SECOND STAR: DREAMS UNTOLD. He won his four-year-old debut in dominant style on Tuesday afternoon. Making his first start since a seventh-place finish in the Concern Stakes in November, he went off at 9/5 in a Pennsylvania-bred allowance at a mile. He stalked longshot leader Spliceinthemainbrace, then seized control at the half-mile point. From there, there was no doubt about the outcome, as he cruised under the wire 6 3/4 lengths in front. He had some impressive one-turn wins in the mid-Atlantic last year, but he showed that two turns isn’t much trouble for him, either. Frankie Pennington had the winning mount, for Someday Farm and John Servis.
THIRD STAR: CHILLY IN CHARGE. Monday’s feature, a n/w2x allowance optional claiming race, went to this Pennsylvania-bred. He sat towards the back of the pack early on the seven-furlong race, and remained four lengths out of it as they entered the stretch. In the stretch, he got into gear, and drew off to win by 1 3/4 lengths. Since returning from a long layoff in September, he’s been in fine form, winning two of his last four. He’s owned by Newtown Anner Stud Farm, trained by Miguel Vera, and ridden by Jeremy Laprida.