Region’s Best

FIRST STAR: COASTAL MISSION. Saturday’s Confucius Say Stakes was headlined on paper by Muad’dib, the two-time West Virginia-bred Horse of the Year making his 2023 debut. However, he finished a flat fifth after stalking the pace. Meanwhile, stablemate Coastal Mission, who pressed the pace from the outside, opened up a clear lead in the stretch and held clear from late-closing No Change to win by a half-length. He ran seven furlongs on a sloppy track in 1:24.99. The son of Northview stallion Great Notion has now won four times on the year from five starts, and sports a career record of 7-3-1 from 12 starts, with earnings of $249,577. He’s owned by breeder Coleswood Farm Inc, trained by Jeff Runco, and ridden by Denis Araujo.

SECOND STAR: ARMANDO R. Thursday’s card at Laurel Park — which feels like a long time ago — was a third-level allowance optional claiming contest at 1 1/16 miles on dirt. In a blanket finish, Armando R came from last to win by a head over Galerio. This was his first win of the year from three starts, and his first victory since back-to-back scores in the Richard W. Small Stakes and the Japan Turf Cup last fall. Horacio Karamanos had the winning mount for owner Ronald Cuneo and trainer Damon Dilodovico.

THIRD STAR: FLASHING DIAMOND. Tuesday’s feature at Parx was a second-level allowance optional claiming sprint for fillies and mares. Flashing Diamond picked up her second win of the year by 1 3/4 lengths, after sitting a great trip near the pace. In the stretch, she kicked by the weary early leader, Empress Deona, and pulled clear for the victory. She’s now won three of her last six starts, and has missed the board just once in her last nine races. She ran six furlongs in 1:14.38 for owner/trainer Jacinto Solis and rider Frankie Pennington.

Laurel Park

FIRST STAR: ARMANDO R. Wouldn’t be surprising to see him in the Pimlico Special in a few weeks.

SECOND STAR: ABOVE THE LIMIT. Zoomed away to an impressive first-level allowance victory on the grass on Thursday.

THIRD STAR: ALPHA CHI RHO. Prompted the pace and beat a starter optional claiming field Thursday for his second win of the year.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: COASTAL MISSION. Looks like he’s on the verge of becoming the new king of the West Virginia-breds.

SECOND STAR: TIZ THE REASON. Scored his third win of the year in starter allowance company on Thursday.

THIRD STAR: ONE NIGHT MIKE. Drew off impressively to beat West Virginia-bred allowance company on Saturday.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR: FLASHING DIAMOND. Continued her consistency streak with her allowance optional claiming win last Tuesday.

SECOND STAR: GET THE W. Picked up his third win of the year, and second of the month, in a Monday starter allowance contest.

THIRD STAR: ROUGH SEA. Dropped back into starter allowance company on Wednesday and overcame a wide trip to ge this season win of the year.