Mid-Atlantic Three Stars: November 24

Ruben Silvera, shown here aboard Indian Lake over the summer, had a big week at Parx last week. Photo by Jerry Dzierwinski.

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: DON’T CALL ME MARY. Don’t Call Me Mary already looked like a big favorite before scratch time for Thursday’s feature, a n/w3x allowance optional claiming race for filly and mare sprinters. Her job became easier when Malibu Beauty scratched to run in this Friday’s Politely Stakes. With her toughest opponent out of the way, Don’t Call Me Mary smashed the field, winning by 1 3/4 lengths as the overwhelming 2-5 favorite. She went six furlongs on dirt in 1:10.14 for her fourth win in seven tries this year. Her most notable victory came in August, when she won the Dr. Teresa Garafalo Memorial Stakes. She’s owned by The Elkstone Group LLC, trained by Todd Pletcher, and was ridden by Mychel Sanchez.
• SECOND STARS: BOBBY G. Saturday’s feature, a n/w2x allowance optional claiming race at one mile on dirt, saw an upset. 19-1 Bobby G emerged from a four-horse blanket finish to win by a head, for his first victory of the year. He was ninth as they began to round the turn, but rallied strongly down the stretch under Richard Monterrey, who timed the move perfectly. Mohan Stable Inc is the winning owner, David Mohan the winning trainer.
•  THIRD STAR: MYSTICAL MAN. The final grass race in Maryland in 2021, a n/w2x allowance optional claiming race at one mile, was held on Sunday. 9-5 favorite Mystical Man sat well off a slow early pace, but closed strongly in the stretch and surged to victory, getting up by 3/4 of a length over Sky’s Not Falling. Mystical Man has now won three times from six races on the year. He’s owned by Bruton Street US, trained by Jack Fisher, and ridden by Forest Boyce.

CHARLES TOWN RACES

 PARX RACING

• FIRST STAR: RUBEN SILVERA. Parx’s leading rider, in the midst of a career year, had a big week last week. He won three races last Monday, then did one better last Wednesday, with four victories. He started off the day with a natural hat trick, taking race 1 with Heated Battle, trained by Michael Aro, race 2 aboard Taino, for trainer Jamie Ness, and the 3rd race on Haleem Lee trainee Cobh. Silvera and Ness teamed up to win again in race 6 with Indian Counselor. With a few weeks to go on the season, Silvera has 192 wins going into this Wednesday’s card, giving up a sizable lead on runner-up Frankie Pennington, with 145. 
• SECOND STAR: MAGIC MICHAEL. Last Tuesday’s feature loomed as a showdown between Greenwood Cup winner Magic Michael and M.P. Ballezzi Appreciation Mile winner Rock On Luke. The latter was the even-money favorite in the four-horse field, while Magic Michael went off as the 11-10 second choice. Rock On Luke set the early pace and had a clear lead in the stretch, but Magic Michael chased him down and won by 1 1/4 lengths. He covered the mile in 1:37.78, for his sixth win of the year. He’s owned by Morris Kernan Jr, Yo Berbs, and Jagger Inc, trained by Jamie Ness, and ridden by Frankie Pennington. 
• THIRD STAR: I’M THE TALENT. The feature race last Monday was a Pennsylvania-bred n/w2x allowance optional claiming race at six furlongs. I’m the Talent picked up his first win of the year, fending off stretch challenges to win by 1 3/4 lengths. Anthony Nunez had the mount for owner Aurora Vista LLC and trainer Scott Lake. 

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