Laurel Park

FIRST STAR: DONTLETSWEETFOOLYA. It was an open allowance race on paper, but Sunday’s featured contest featured a stakes-quality field of fillies and mares. The combatants included stakes winners Edie Meeny Miny Mo and Swayin To and Fro. Both were defeated by Dontletsweetfoolya, who rated off the pace and won a stretch battle with those rivals to win by a half-length. She finished third against these types on grass last Sunday, but a surface switch got the job done for her second victory of the season. She ran six furlongs in 1:10.86, for owner Five Hellions Farm, trainer Lacey Gaudet, and jockey Sheldon Russell.

SECOND STAR: POST TIME. This Maryland-bred 2-year-old improved to 2-for-2 on Thursday with another impressive victory. He competed in a seven-furlong first-level allowance optional claiming race, and went off as the 2-1 second choice. Much like he did in his debut, he made a big rush to the lead on the final turn, and opened up in the stretch despite drifting out. Eric Camacho kept him straight as best he could, and he crossed the line 6 3/4 lengths in front. He ran the distance in 1:25.30, for a much-improved Beyer figure of 86. He’s owned by Hillwood Stable LLC and trained by Brittany Russell.

THIRD STARS: JEIRON BARBOSA AND HORACIO KARAMANOS. The top two jockeys at the Laurel fall meet both had big days on Friday. Barbosa, who leads the way with 23 victories, won race 2 aboard Esperanna, trained by Rudy Sanchez-Solomon, race 4 on Johnnyfrenchfri, trained by Hugh McMahon, and the 5th race on Michael Merryman trainee Killy Start. Not to be outdone, Karamanos, currently second in the standings with 18 wins, won race 3 on Alla Breve, for trainer Michael Matz, race 7 with Gastown Babe, trained by Justin Nixon, and the 9th race on Bob Kelsaris-trained Singalong.

SECOND STAR: ELOQUIST. This Butch Reid-trained gelding won for the third time in his last four starts in Thursday’s feature race. He rated in mid-pack in a one mile and 70 yard allowance optional claiming race, while 13-1 longshot Golden Juan set an uncontested loose lead. He remained clear as they turned for home, but Eloquist, who saved ground all the way, came charging on late and pulled clear in the end. Golden Juan held on for second. The winner’s now won four times from eleven starts lifetime, and has a 3-for-7 record on the year. He’s owned by Cash is King LLC and LC Racing LLC and ridden by Paco Lopez.

THIRD STAR: CHIEF RON. Later on Thursday, Chief Ron won a second-level allowance race by a nose in an exciting finish. Favored Aristocratic set the early pace and led most of the way while being pressed. Meanwhile, Chief Ron drafted at the back of the four-horse field, but made a move while wide entering the stretch. Aristocratic fought back to his inside, and the two hit the line together, with Chief Ron ultimately getting the nod. He ran 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:04.50, for owner John Conforti, trainer Chelsey Moysey, and jockey John Hiraldo.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: MARZ EXPRESS. Saturday’s feature race was the Eleanor Casey Memorial Stakes, for 2-year-old West Virginia-bred fillies. Marz Express won her second stakes of the year in a hard-fought performance. She tracked longshot leader Keep On Spurrin on her outside, then moved directly alongside her on the final turn. In the last sixteenth, Marz Express dispatched her pace-setting rival, then held off late rallies from Strong Willed and Lucky Blonde to win by a half-length. She won the Triple Crown Nutrition Breeders’ Stakes in her last start and is now 3-for-5 lifetime. She’s owned by Ultra Championship Racing LLC, trained by Anthony Farrior, and ridden by Jose Montano.

SECOND STAR: HOLY SYNCHRONICITY. This Maryland-bred gelding picked up his third win of the year on Thursday with a dominant 9 3/4 length-victory. As the 11-10 favorite, he drafted off Auburn Mill in the early stages of the 6 1/2-furlong contest, then moved to engage the leader nearing the far turn and pulled clear from there. This was his first victory outside of Laurel Park, while improving his record to 1-for-1 in West Virginia. Jean Alvelo was aboard for owner A.R.D. Racing Stables and trainer Rudy Sanchez-Solomon.

THIRD STAR: JUSTIN LEWIS. In just his third career mount, Lewis won his first race as a jockey. He guided Jeff Runco-trained Moiraine to victory after setting the pace and fending off numerous challenges. She crossed the line 2 1/2 lengths in front for Lewis’s milestone victory.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR: FIVE DREAMS. Off a runner-up finish behind Fortheluvofbourbon in the Liberty Bell Stakes last out, Five Dreams rebounded on Monday with a win in an open allowance race, for his third win in his last four starts. He set the early pace after going right to the lead from post position six and repelled challenges from Breezy Gust and Admiral Abe on the turn. Yodel E.A. Who closed strongly from last, but the wire came in time for Five Dreams, who won by a length. He’s now won five times on the year from 11 starts. Andrew Wolfsont had the winning mount for owner/trainer Miguel Rodriguez.

SECOND STAR: GOLDEN TABBY. This Pennsylvania-bred daughter of Northview stallion Golden Lad won for the third straight time on Monday. Much like Five Dreams did later in the card, she set the pace, fended off all challenges, and pulled clear late to win by 2 1/2 lengths under Silvestre Gonzalez. She ran six furlongs over a sloppy track in 1:11.49 as she added to previous wins here and at Penn National. She’s owned by Shooting Star Stable and trained by Kathleen Demasi.

THIRD STAR: TONAL VISION. Third in the Delaware Handicap earlier in the year, Tonal Vision made her first start since then on Wednesday and won a second-level allowance optional claiming race by two lengths. She made a wide bid for the lead on the final turn and opened up a commanding advantage in the lane. Ninetypercentbrynn closed ground late while wide, but Tonal Vision’s lead proved insurmountable. The winner is owned by Ten Strike Racing, trained by Juan Carlos Guerrero, and ridden by Jeiron Barbosa.

Region’s Best

1. Marz Express- Picked up another stakes win at Charles Town as she continues a fast start to her young career.
2. Dontletsweetfoolya
3. No Cents