Mid-Atlantic Three Stars: March 23
Johan Rosado, shown here at Delaware Park, won three races at Laurel Park on Saturday. Photo: Hoofprintsinc.com
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: NOTTOWAY. Saturday’s feature race was a n/w2x allowance optional claiming race going short. Nottoway proved best in the four-horse field, opening up a clear lead early and drawing away from there. Despite drifting out in the stretch, he held on to win by a length, covering six furlongs over a fast track in 1:09.15. This is the second win of the year, and his third victory in his last four starts. Johan Rosado had the winning mount, for owners Team Gaudet and Herman Braude and trainer Lacey Gaudet.
- SECOND STAR: JOHAN ROSADO. Rosado’s win on Nottoway was one of three he picked up on the Saturday card. In addition to his victory on Nottoway, he won race 2 on Mikey’s Jewel, for trainer Hamilton Smith, and race 6 on Doubleoseven, for trainer Jerry O’Dwyer. Rosado also won a pair of races on Sunday, as well as one on Friday. He’s tied for eighth place in the rider standings, with 14 wins.
- THIRD STAR: PARADISE SONG. Friday’s feature was an interesting n/w1x allowance optional claiming race for 3-year-old fillies. Paradise Song, the 2/1 second choice, won impressively. She rated off the lead, then moved four-wide in the stretch and drew off from the others. She crossed the wire 5 1/4 lengths in front, going the distance in 1:10.71. Pretty Lori was on the pace in her first start off a long layoff, but hung around well and finished second. The winner is owned by Sonata Stable, trained by Mike Trombetta, and ridden by Julian Pimentel.
CHARLES TOWN RACES
- FIRST STAR: SEE YA MANANA. Making her first start since a third place finish in the My Sister Pearl Stakes in December, she won a West Virginia-bred allowance optional claiming race on Thursday night to begin her 2021 campaign in style. Under Arnaldo Bocachica, she enjoyed a great trip rating off the leaders, then moved up engage the leaders in the stretch. In the last sixteenth, she pulled clear to win by two lengths, covering seven furlongs in 1:28.66. This victory was her tenth lifetime from 27 starts, and pushed her earnings past the $250,000 mark. She’s owned by Huntertown Farm LLC and trained by Jeff Runco.
- SECOND STAR: FOLLY. This mare won Wednesday night’s feature in a romp. Sent off as the 2/5 favorite in an open first-level allowance race for fillies and mares, she enjoyed a great trip rating off pace-setting Complete Surprise. As they approached three-quarters, Folly moved to engage the leader, then passed her and drew away. Folly crossed the wire 7 1/2 lengths in front, for her first win of the year. She’s owned by Todd Crow and Mary Crow, trained by Troy Newton, and was ridden by Arnaldo Bocachica.
- THIRD STAR: GOLD AND STRIKE. Friday night’s card began with a big win from Gold and Strike, who crushed an open allowance optional claiming race for fillies and mares by 4 1/2 lengths. Keimar Trotman sent Gold and Strike to the lead early on in the 4 1/2 furlong affair, then got entangled in a duel. However, Gold and Strike quickly dismissed her dueling partner, and drew off to a handy win. She’s owned by Cecil Clugston and trained by Ben Feliciano.
PARX RACING
- FIRST STAR: ADMIRAL ABE. Off a gigantic win last out, Admiral Abe was the favorite in Tuesday’s feature race, an unconditioned allowance race going 6 1/2 furlongs. He had to sweat it a bit more this time, but he held on to win by a head after setting the early pace. Arch Cat closed gamely in the stretch, but was no better than second. Admiral Abe is owned by Stefon Racing, trained by Robert Mosco, and ridden by Silvestre Gonzalez.
- SECOND STAR: BREEZY GUST. He won Monday’s feature race impressively, taking a n/w2x allowance by 5 1/4 lengths. He got involved in a speed duel with Violent Turbulence in the early stages of the six-furlong affair, snapping off the opening quarter in 22.47 seconds. As they entered the stretch, Breezy Gust began to pull clear, while Violent Turbulence dropped back. No one made a serious move on the leader, and Breezy Gust crossed the wire well out in front. He’s now a perfect 3-for-3 in 2021, and 5-for-10 lifetime. He’s owned by John Fanelli and Long Ball Stable LLC, trained by Daniel Velazquez, and ridden by Jomar Torres.
- THIRD STAR: ROBERT MOSCO. Mosco had a great training day on Tuesday. In addition to his win with Admiral Abe, he sent out two more winners. He won race 5 with Hold My Call, also ridden by Silvestre Gonzalez, and race 7 with Grit’n’grind, with Roberto Rosado in the saddle. Mosco’s 11 wins on the Parx meet are good for fifth in the standings.
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