Laurel Park

FIRST STAR: EASTERN BAY. This hard-knocking gelding looked for his fifth win of 2022 from seven starts on Saturday, in a third-level allowance optional claiming race at six furlongs on dirt. Even though he had won at this level twice in his last three starts, he was dismissed at 5-1, the second-biggest longshot in the six-horse field. He proved the doubters wrong with a 1 1/4-length win, coming from off the pace with a four-wide move and kicking clear in the stretch. The win pushed his career earnings to $723,358. He’s owned by Built Wright Stables LLC, trained by Norman Cash, and ridden by Will Humphrey, in his first day back from riding since spending a few weeks on the sidelines.

SECOND STAR: NATHAN DETROIT. Humphrey also guided Nathan Detroit to victory in a third-level allowance optional claiming race earlier in the card. He unseated Humphrey in the early stages of the Colonial Cup last out at Colonial Downs, sending the rider to the sidelines. The two reunited on Saturday as the 7-1 fifth choice in the field of six going 1 1/16 miles on the grass. He surged down the stretch and got up to win by three-quarters of a length. He races for the same connections as Eastern Bay, Built Wright Stables LLC and Norman Cash.

THIRD STAR: MO MONEY MO HONEY. Off an impressive maiden win on debut last out, Mo Money Mo Honey went off as the 2-1 second favorite in a first-level allowance race on Sunday. He prompted Friar Tuck on the lead in the early stages, then moved to the front on the turn and kicked away for an impressive seven-length score. He ran six furlongs in a sharp 1:09.54 to improve to 2-for-2 lifetime. He’s owned by Robin Doser and Metropolitan Thoroughbreds LLC, trained by Ben Feliciano Jr, and ridden by Horacio Karamanos. Feliciano and Karamanos also teamed up to win race 8 with Zola B, completing a sweep of the late double.

SECOND STAR: PHILADELPHIA BELLE. A competitive field of allowance optional claiming fillies and mares met in a six-furlong dash to wrap up the Saturday card. Parx shipper Philadelphia Belle withstood pressure from last-out stakes winner Malibu Beauty and held on to win by three-quarters of a length. She’s won three times on the year from six races. This Pennsylvania-bred 5-year-old is owned by Madison Avenue Racing Stable Inc and Jagger Inc, trained by Jamie Ness, and ridden by Jaime Rodriguez.

THIRD STAR: SEVIER. This 8-year-old gelding won for the 23rd time in his career, and third time on the year, on Saturday. As the 1-5 favorite in a starter allowance sprint, he set the pace by himself in the early stages, then encountered pressure from Swing West in the stretch. However, Sevier dismissed the challenge and pulled away late to cross the line 2 1/4 lengths in front. He ran six furlongs in 1:12.44, as Ness and Rodriguez teamed up on him as well. He’s owned by Morris Kernan Jr, Yo Berbs Racing, and Jagger Inc.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: JEFFERSON NATIVE. This rising West Virginia-bred star made it three wins in a row on Saturday in dramatic fashion. He was the slight 2-1 favorite in a 4 1/2-furlong allowance race, and battled with Math Man Marco in the two-path. They battled throughout the race, but Jefferson Native had just a little more to give. He dug in and won by a head over Math Man Marco, crossing the wire in 51.94 seconds. Andre Ramgeet had the winning mount for owner T.W. Stables LLC and trainer Linda Dollinger-Stehr.

SECOND STAR: NEWS FLASH. Friday’s feature, a first-level allowance sprint at 4 1/2 furlongs, went to this Ontario-bred gelding in his first victory of the year. He was hustled to the lead from the inside post under Reshawn Latchman and drew off late to win by two lengths. He covered the distance in 51.20 seconds, running a career-best Equibase figure of 92. Christopher Keller is the winning owner and trainer.

THIRD STAR: GOODNESS GRACIOUS. In her first start since March 17, this West Virginia-bred 3-year-old filly won an allowance race on Friday night by seven lengths. Thunder Punch, off four wins in her last six starts, was the 1-5 favorite, but it was 5-2 Goodness Gracious who dominated the race, as she opened up a long lead early and drew away. She’s won twice from four starts with earnings of $41,004. She ran 4 1/2 furlongs in 51.64 seconds, for owner and breeder O’Sullivan Farms LLC, trainer Javier Contreras, and jockey Allison Nunez.

SECOND STAR: NOTHING BETTER. Later on the Sunday card, male grass sprinters met up in the Rainbow Heir Stakes. Nothing Better and Breakthrough battled for the lead in the early stages, and while the latter faded in the last eighth, Nothing Better pulled clear at that point and won by two lengths, holding on over a late-closing Belgrano. This 5-year-old gelding picked up his first stakes win in that race, and his fifth win lifetime from 15 starts. He’s owned by Colts Neck Stables LLC, trained by Jorge Duarte Jr, and ridden by Jairo Rendon.

THIRD STAR: ANTIGRAVITY. Earlier on the Saturday card, Antigravity picked up his first win of 2022 by winning a second-level allowance optional claiming event by a half-length. The 6-5 choice pressed the pace early and overtook Burning Bright late for the win. That rival held on for second, while Phat Man closed late for third. The winner was third in last year’s Haskell, and won for the first time since an allowance victory in June 2021. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer co-owns him with Dennis January, while Paco Lopez had the winning mount.

Region’s Best

1. Kuramata- another grass stakes win for Chad Brown.
2. Built Wright Stables/Norman Cash
3. Nothing Better