Mid-Atlantic Three Stars: January 5

Dreams Untold drew off to victory in the Blitzen Stakes at Parx Racing on Tuesday. Photo: Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO

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: JEVIAN TOLEDO. Maryland’s leading rider in 2021 got off to a fast start in 2022, as he won five races over the first two days of the year. On Saturday, he pulled off a natural hat trick, winning race 3 on Sutton Valley for trainer Ned Allard, race 4 aboard John the Bear, trained by Claudio Gonzalez, and race 5 with Brittany Russell-trained Middle Island. He added two more victories to his total on Sunday, giving him five wins through his first twelve mounts of the year.
SECOND STAR: DOUBLEOSEVEN. This Maryland-bred gelding made his final start of 2021 a winning one last Thursday, as he won a n/w2x allowance optional claiming race by a nose. The hard-knocking Galerio set the early pace, while Doubleoseven rated right off of him. In the stretch, the two dueled down the lane, and Doubleoseven got up to win by a nose. He covered 1 1/16 miles over a muddy track in 1:44.45. He’s owned by McCarty Racing LLC, trained by Jeremiah O’Dwyer, and ridden by Johan Rosado.
THIRD STAR: CONCLUSIVE. Sunday’s feature was a n/w1x allowance optional claiming race for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles. 2-1 favorite Conclusive set the pace, while being pressed, and drew off in the stretch for a 5 3/4-length win. The final time was 1:44.00, over a sloppy track, almost half a second faster than higher-level older males ran the distance a few days before. Mychel Sanchez had the winning mount for owner Sonata Stable and trainer Mike Trombetta.

Charles Town is currently on their end-of-year break. Live racing is scheduled to resume on Thursday, January 6.

FIRST STAR: DREAMS UNTOLD. Despite a promising start to his career in 2020, this son of Smarty Jones, racing for the same owner/trainer team, had yet to win a stakes race from his first sixteen starts. Last Tuesday, he won the Blitzen Stakes by 3 3/4 lengths, as he finally won his first stakes race. Breaking from post position twelve, he stalked the pace while racing wide, then took command entering the stretch and drew away. He covered six furlongs in 1:10.46, with Frankie Pennington aboard.
SECOND STAR: WHY WHY PAUL WHY. One race prior, rising local star Why Why Paul Why won the Kris Kringle Stakes by 2 1/4 lengths, for his fourth victory in a row and fifth win in his last six starts. Kendrick Carmouche moved him four-wide entering the stretch, and he chased down favored Davidic Line and pulled away from the rest. He’s owned by JKX Racing and trained by Penny Pearce, who also saddled third-place finisher I Am Redeemed.
THIRD STAR: JAKARTA. Earlier on the Tuesday card, Jakarta went gate-to-wire in the Mrs. Claus Stakes, in an 18-1 upset. She set the early pace, then drew off from the others as they rounded the far turn and held on to win, for her first victory of the year. She’s owned by Three Diamonds Farm, trained by Mike Trombetta, and ridden by Mychel Sanchez.