Region’s Best

FIRST STAR: CLASSIER. Friday’s co-feature was a second-level allowance optional claiming race at seven furlongs. Classier, making his first start for owner/trainer Kieron Magee, prevailed by 5 1/4 lengths for his second consecutive victory. Despite racing wide throughout, he struck the front at the top of the stretch and quickly opened up an insurmountable advantage. Classier’s now won four times from nine starts and earned $222,140, with his most significant victory coming in the 2014 Los Alamitos Derby. Jevian Toledo, who won his first grade 1 race the following day with Doppelganger in the Carter Handicap, had the winning mount.

SECOND STAR: IYWAAN. One race later, in a second-level race going 1 1/16 miles, Iywaan shook off the rust from a three-month layoff to win for the first time since last September. Under Tyler Conner, the 7-5 favorite made a three-wide move on the final turn, worked his way by early leader Nostalgic Run, and opened up late to win by 3 1/2 lengths. This 8-year-old has now won 15 times in 41 starts, with earnings of $290,128. He’s owned by Jeffrey Parthemore, trained by Mark Salvaggio, and ridden by Tyler Conner.

THIRD STAR: STORM BOARDER. This 7-year-old Ollie Figgins-trained gelding made it 3-for-3 on the year on Thursday at Charles Town, when he won a second-level dash by three lengths. Sent off as the 2-1 third choice from the outside post, he broke on top, made his way to the rail, and held clear late, going 4 1/2 furlongs in 51.67 seconds. He hasn’t finished out of the top three since January 2021, his last sixteen starts, and won seven in a row between Mountaineer and Charles Town in 2021 and 2022. He’s owned by Roddy Valente and ridden by Fredy Peltroche.

Laurel Park

FIRST STAR: CLASSIER. Might we see him in stakes company next?

SECOND STAR: IYWAAN. Got back on the board win a sharp win on Friday.

THIRD STAR: TWEET AWAY ROBIN. Returned to Laurel in a first-level sprint on Thursday and pulled the upset over favored Haleigh B.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: STORM BOARDER. Ultra-consistent gelding did it again on Thursday.

SECOND STAR: COASTAL MISSION. Rebounded with a win at odds-on on Saturday, his third victory of the year.

THIRD STAR: ARNALDO BOCACHICA. Coastal Mission was one of three winners for Bocachica on Saturday, to go along with a six-win weekend.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR: EARLY EDITION. She shook off pace pressure to win a second-level sprint on Monday for her second straight win.

SECOND STAR: GET THE W. This 10-year-old gelding won his 93rd start on Tuesday as he inches towards the half-million mark in earnings.

THIRD STAR: JAIME TORRES. Picked up three wins from five mounts on Tuesday.