Mid-Atlantic Three Stars: November 17
Star of Night continued her hot streak with a win in the My Sister Pearl Stakes at Charles Town last Saturday. Photo: Coady Photography
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: MISS LESLIE. Saturday’s card at Laurel Park featured three stakes races, including the Thirty Eight Go Go Stakes for fillies and mares. Off an impressive allowance optional claiming win at Delaware Park last out, Miss Leslie was the even-money favorite in the nine-horse field, and she rallied from eighth with a five-wide move to win by half a length. She’s now won three times on the year from ten starts, and has won three stakes races in the past twelve months. She’s owned by BB Horses, trained by Claudio Gonzalez, and ridden by Angel Cruz.
- SECOND STARS: JERRY ROBB AND XAIVER PEREZ. This dynamic trainer/jockey duo teamed up to win four times between Saturday and Sunday. They won three races together on Saturday, winning race 3 with 25-1 Al Loves Josie, race 4 with budding sprint star Princess Kokachin, and race 9 with Street Lute’s younger half-brother, Alottahope. On Sunday, Perez and Robb got another winner, with Award Wanted in the 7th race.
- THIRD STAR: BRITTANY RUSSELL. Russell got herself back in the trainer’s race on Sunday, with a three-win afternoon. Kevin Gomez guided two of her winners home, in race 1 on Clear Humor and race 9 aboard Pedersen’s Courage. In between, she sent out Sofia’s Secret to victory in race 5 on debut, with Feargal Lynch in the saddle. Russell’s won 20 races on the meet, trailing current leader Claudio Gonzalez by three victories.
CHARLES TOWN RACES
- FIRST STAR: STAR OF NIGHT. This West Virginia-bred star capped off a 5-for-5 season and extended her winning streak to nine races in a row on Saturday night, with a victory in the My Sister Pearl Stakes. She rated off 31-1 shot Boundtobebad early on, and moved to the front around the final turn and effortlessly took control. She won by three lengths as the 1-10 favorite, the lowest price allowed in West Virginia. She’s won three stakes races this year, and won this race for the second year in a row. Arnaldo Bocachica had the mount for owner Huntertown Farm LLC and trainer Jeff Runco.
- SECOND STAR: FIRE DOWN BELOW. Earlier on the Saturday card, this 5-year-old Ohio-bred gelding won for the seventh time this year, and for the third time in a row. He won a starter allowance race as the 4-5 favorite by two lengths under Darius Thorpe. He rated off the pace while racing a few paths off the rail, then took control in the stretch and drew off late. Previously based at Penn National, he started racing at Charles Town in late July, and has a 4-for-6 record over this track. He’s owned and trained by Amy Albright.
- THIRD STAR: PEPPA STAR. A n/w1x allowance for fillies and mares served as the Wednesday feature. Peppa Starr, a gray West Virginia-bred 3-year-old filly, had no challenges on the lead and drew off to a 3 1/4-length win. She took control early on in the 4 1/2-furlong contest and never gave it up. She’s won four times from eight starts on the year, for owner Breeze Easy LLC, trainer Javier Contreras, and jockey Antonio Lopez.
PARX RACING
- FIRST STAR: THE SICARII. Last Monday’s feature was a n/w2x allowance optional claiming race at six furlongs. The Sicarii rated in last place early on in a tightly-packed field, then rallied up the inside in the stretch. He got up to win a photo finish by a nose, for his second consecutive victory. He’s owned by John Fanelli, trained by Harold Wyner, and ridden by Ruben Silvera.
- SECOND STAR: JEREMY LAPRIDA. He had a big afternoon last Tuesday, winning three races from four mounts. He won two races for Robert Mosco, taking race 1 on Creative Love and race 4 aboard Grimhilde. He also won race 2 with Eli Betancourt-trained Hard West.
- THIRD STAR: PHILADELPHIA BELLE. Later on the Monday card, Philadelphia Belle won a n/w1x allowance for fillies and mares at 5 1/2 furlongs. She moved four-wide entering the stretch and drew away in the stretch, opening up six lengths at one point. Although the margin was cut into a bit, she crossed the line three lengths in front. She’s won twice on the year from four starts, for owner Nick Polydros, trainer Kathleen Demasi, and jockey Silvestre Gonzalez.
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