Laurel Park

FIRST STARS: JEIRON BARBOSA. Barbosa arrived at Laurel Park last month, and has made a powerful impact so far. This Puerto Rican apprentice had his biggest day so far on Saturday, when he won four races from four mounts. He started his day with a win in race 2, scoring on Rustys Gfivefifty for trainer Claudio Gonzalez. He wasted no time getting his second win, scoring in the 3rd race on Rockinhippiechick for trainer Annette Eubanks. He got the hat trick in race 7 on Ferris Allen trainee Shady Munni, then completed the grand slam in race 8 aboard Got a Good Reason, for trainer Marilyn McMullen. Barbosa has been on a tear through the first two weeks of the meet, with nine winners from 26 starts to lead the jockey standings.

SECOND STAR: MILTON THE MONSTER. After turning heads with an impressive allowance optional claiming win at Parx earlier in the year, Milton the Monster shipped up to Aqueduct for the Stymie Stakes. He finished third that day, but bounced back at Laurel on Friday in a third-level allowance optional claiming contest. He lived up to his 2-5 promise, drawing off in the stretch to win by six lengths while covering seven furlongs in 1:23.09. That’s the second time in three starts he’s run an Equibase figure of at least 113. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him in stakes company next out, perhaps in the Maryland Sprint on Preakness weekend. He’s owned by Robert Brittingham, trained by James Wasserson, and Louis Bisso Jr, trained by John Servis, and ridden by Frankie Pennington.

THIRD STAR: EXCELLORATOR. Last year, Excellorator crossed the wire first in the Federico Tesio Stakes, but was disqualified and placed second behind The Reds. He made his first start since then on Thursday, going off as the odds-on choice in a first-level allowance race. He got a great trip stalking the pace in the one-mile contest, and came up the inside in the stretch to win by 2 1/4 lengths. He covered the distance over a very sloppy track in 1:40.13. Larry Rabold is the winning owner, while Jean Alvelo was in the saddle.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: RONNEY BROWN. One of Charles Town’s leading trainers won six races last week, with multi-win days on three consecutive programs. On Wednesday, he bookended the card, taking race 1 with Burr Hill Bullet and race 8 with Sooey’s Princess. On Thursday, he scored in the 2nd race with Love to Zoom and race 6 with Miss Wave. Friday saw him get his third consecutive double, as he got another bookend with Stalking in race 1 and race 8 with Quid Pro Quo. Carlos Lopez rode his winners on Wednesday and Thursday. J.D. Acosta had the winning mount on Stalking, while Denis Araujo got Quid Pro Quo home. Brown is currently in second in the trainer standings, with 32 wins from 130 starters.

SECOND STAR: CARLOS LOPEZ. Brown’s horses were the key to a big Wednesday night for Lopez. In addition to his two winners for Brown, Lopez also rode Don’t Dare Me to victory in race 4, for trainer Saul Ramirez. That gave Lopez a riding hat trick. Lopez has made the most of his chances at the meet, with 22 wins from 72 mounts. That’s good for third in the rider standings.

THIRD STAR: FANCY HER UP. Last year’s winner of the Rachel’s Turn Stakes made her first start of the year on Saturday, in a West Virginia-bred allowance race. Sent off as the odds-on choice, she dueled with Shutupn’kissme while racing in the two-path most of the way. She ultimately pulled clear late to win by a length, going 4 1/2 furlongs in 52.19 seconds. She now has a 4-for-6 record at Charles Town. John Casey is the winning owner and trainer, Gerald Almodovar is the winning jockey.

Parx Racing

FIRST STARS: HOLLYWOOD JET. This blazing fast gelding won a starter optional claiming race on Wednesday, for his sixth consecutive win. He never looked like a loser at any point during the six-furlong contest, as he quickly opened up a big early lead and crossed the wire 2 1/4 lengths in front. He won the Fishtown Stakes here last out; it remains to be seen if he will return to stakes company or stick with races like this. He’s owned and trained by Carlos Millan and ridden by Luis Ocasio.

SECOND STAR: DERBY HOUSE. Earlier on the Wednesday card, another losing streak started to blossom, as Derby House won his third race in a row. Making his first local start after enjoying success at Turfway Park, he rated towards the back of the pack early on in the one mile and 70 yard contest, then made a bold move to the front and drew away to win by nine lengths. He went the distance on a sloppy track in 1:42.19. Abner Adorno had the mount for owner JKX Racing and trainer Penny Pearce.

THIRD STAR: RUBEN SILVERA. Parx’s leading jockey piloted home four winners last Tuesday. He teamed up with Jamie Ness twice, winning race 6 aboard Brilliant Chase and race 10 with Starship Laoban. He also took race 5 on One Niner Tango, trained by Scott Lake, and the 8th race aboard Jamie Dreams, trained by Louis Linder Jr. Silvera has 55 wins from 243 mounts at the meet so far.

Region’s Best

1. Jerian Barbosa- Looks like a rising star.
2. Hollywood Jet
3. Ronney Brown