Laurel Park

FIRST STAR: UNCLE IRISH. This Maryland-bred son of Uncle Lino has had a busy 3-year-old campaign. He made his 14th start of the season on Thursday, in a second-level allowance optional claiming race at 1 1/8 miles. Under Charlie Marquez, he easily made his way to the lead and opened up a comfortable early advantage. From there, he cruised to a 3 3/4-length victory, covering the distance over a sloppy track in 1:52.58. He’s owned by Morris Kernan Jr and Jagger Inc and trained by Jamie Ness.

SECOND STAR: QUICK TEMPO. After facing much better earlier in the year, Quick Tempo dropped to the starter optional claiming level on Saturday, and went off as the even-money favorite in a 5 1/2-furlong dash. There was little drama, as he opened up a big early lead and cruised to a three-length win in 1:03.90. It was his third win of the year, and his first since a similar win at Colonial Downs in August. Jevian Toledo had the winning mount for owner Hinder Holdings LLC and trainer Kieron Magee.

THIRD STAR: AMERICAN D’ORO. Thursday’s co-featured event, a second-level allowance optional claiming race scheduled for 1 1/8 miles on grass, was washed away to dirt after some ill-timed rain. American d’Oro was one of five who stayed in the race, and it proved a wise decision, as he destroyed the field by 9 1/4 lengths. He tracked loose leader Prairie early on, and when he began to wilt, American d’Oro easily took over and drew off. It was his second win of the year, and his first career win on this track. He’s owned by Sterling Road Stables and LBR Racing Stable, trained by Richard Sillaman, and ridden by Lauralea Glaser.

SECOND STAR: ALMA ROSA. One day prior, 2-year-old fillies took center stage in the equivalent race, the White Clay Creek Stakes. Alma Rosa, a homebred for Gelfenstein Farm, won by 1 3/4 lengths as the 13-10 favorite. Much like Tuskegee Airmen, she stalked the pace and pulled clear in the last eighth. She ran the distance in 1:39.95, for trainer Bernardo Lopez and jockey Jaime Rodriguez.

THIRD STAR: WINDCRACKER. Wednesday’s feature was a second-level allowance optional claiming race going long on dirt. McLaren Vale. recently transferred to the Brittany Russell barn, crossed the wire first after a last-to-first rally. However, he was disqualified for bumping with Windcracker, and that rival was elevated to first place. That’s the third win of the year for this 4-year-old gelding, all of which have come at Delaware. He’s owned by Danny Brown, Chris Brenneman, and trainer Greg Compton and ridden by Carol Cedeno.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: MARSHALL MENDEZ. This up-and-coming Charles Town star had a big week last week. He pulled a grand slam on Thursday, winning four races from five mounts. On Friday, he came back and won three races, giving him a 7-for-11 record over the two-day stretch. Mendez has had by far the most mounts of any Charles Town rider, with 697 rides as of October 16. He’s won 115 of those races, putting him second in the jockey standings.

SECOND STAR: RESHAWN LATCHMAN. Not to be outdone, Latchman also won four races on Wednesday. He turned a natural hat trick to start his night, taking race 4 with Pistol P, for trainer Jack Hurley, race 5 on John McKee trainee Valid Reason, and the 6th race aboard Katalima, trained by Lela Hanagan. After being defeated in race 7, Latchman bounced back in race 8 to win on A Farewell Yodel, his second win of the night for Hurley. Latchman is fourth in the rider standings, with 77 wins from 377 mounts.

THIRD STAR: GOODNESS GRACIOUS. This West Virginia-bred 3-year-old filly bounced back from a dull effort in the Autumn Stakes with a victory on Thursday. She went off as the 5-2 second choice in the seven-horse field, but she quickly established control of the allowance field and won by 7 3/4 lengths. Odds-on choice Yolo Charlotte faded and finished fourth. Goodness Gracious has now won four times from seven starts on the year, for owner/breeder O’Sullivan Farms LLC, trainer Javier Contreras, and jockey Wesley Ho.

SECOND STAR: AGITARE. One race earlier, flat horses did battle in the two-mile John Forbes Memorial Stakes. Agitare, another Irish shipper, prevailed by 4 3/4 lengths in an 18-1 upset. 30-1 longshot Basso, ridden by Nik Juarez, led most of the way, while Agitare got a great trip rating off him. While Basso held on for second, Agitare overtook him late and drew off, going the distance in 3:36 to set a new track record. Bernard Dalton was aboard for trainer Keri Brion, who won two races on the day, and owners Molly Willis, Paul Willis, CFC Stables, Danny Kelly, Shelia Kelly, and L5 Racing.

THIRD STARS: DAVID RUSSELL AND GORDON ELLIOTT. Jockey Russell and trainer Elliott teamed up to win two races on the card. They won the Gladstone Hurdle Stakes with The Insider, for owners Kenny Haughey, Laura Haughey, and Kieran Byrne. One race later, they teamed up in the Foxbook Champion Hurdle Stakes on Aidan Ryan’s Ted Hastings.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR: JAMIE NESS. Always a dominant force at Parx, Ness had a spectacular day on Wednesday, with six winners. He began his day with a win in race 2, as Champion by Design won with Jose Gomez in the saddle. In the 3rd race, Ness won with Queen Cordella, ridden by Frankie Pennington. After a few races without an entrant, Ness heated up late with a natural grand slam. He won race 7 with Lord Uhtred, ridden by Ruben Silvera, race 8 with Hidden Promise, also ridden by Silvera, the 9th race with He Hate Me, with Pennington aboard, and race 10 on Refund Rigler, his third winner with Silvera. Ness’s big day boosted his win total on the year at Parx to 141.

SECOND STAR: SILVER EDGE. On Tuesday, a field of seven met in a one-mile first-level allowance optional claiming race. Silver Edge earned his first victory of the year in that race in a gate-to-wire effort. He was pressed on the pace by Splicethemainbrace, but held clear late and crossed the wire 1 1/4 lengths in front. Jeremy Laprida was aboard for owner Yellow Stripe Stable and J and D Stables and trainer Frank Pollara.

THIRD STAR: HOLDTHEFLIGHT. On Monday, this 6-year-old won a starter allowance race for his third victory of the year. As the slight 5-2 favorite, he broke well and battled with Expensive Cut and Abuelo Neno in the early stages. However, Holdtheflight ultimately pulled away and won by 2 1/2 lengths. He’s owned by JKX Racing, trained by Ernesto Padilla-Preciado, and ridden by Jorge Vargas Jr.

Region’s Best

1. Hewick- Takes American steeplechasing’s biggest race.
2. Tuskegee Airmen
3. Marshall Mendez