Region’s Best

FIRST STAR: SHOTGUN HOTTIE. Between her win in the 2022 Ruthless Stakes and Saturday’s Lady’s Secret Stakes at Monmouth Park, Shotgun Hottie finished stakes-placed five times without winning. She finally broke through on the Jersey Shore, winning the Lady’s Secret by 5 1/2 lengths as the 3-2 favorite after prompting early leader Signal From Noise and powering past. The 4-year-old filly has now won four times from 14 starts, with earnings of $470,607. Paco Lopez was in the saddle for owners Omar Aldabbagh and Jeff Ganje and trainer Cherie DeVaux.

SECOND STAR: ZABRACADABRA. Laurel Park kicked off their summer stand on Friday, with a card headlined by an open allowance contest at one mile on dirt. Zabracadabra, a familiar face to local fans, made a wide move on the turn and drew off in the stretch to win by 6 1/2 lengths. This Washington-bred gelding has now hit the exacta in his last six starts against top-tier allowance company, but has raced in stakes company just once since the start of 2022. We’ll see if he’s finally inspired to take the step up in class. He’s owned by Frank Sample, trained by Gary Capuano, and ridden by Carlos Lopez.

THIRD STAR: IRISH BOOLUM. The Friendly Lover Handicap, for Jersey-breds going two turns on dirt, headlined the Sunday card at Monmouth. Irish Boolum, a homebred for Isabelle de Tomaso, stalked the pace while racing three-wide and drew away to a 21-1 upset by almost nine lengths. It’s his first stakes win and his first victory of any sort since an allowance win at Delaware Park last October. He now has a career record of 4-4-0 from 16 starts with earnings of $227,175. He’s trained by Cal Lynch and was ridden by Angel Arroyo.

Laurel Park

FIRST STAR: ZABRACADABRA. The Deputed Testamony Stakes on July 29 would be a logical next spot.

SECOND STAR: WAR TOCSIN. Led most of the way to upset a strong third-level allowance optional claiming field on Sunday in a 13-1 upset.

THIRD STAR: PIT STOP MAN. Broke on top and never got tired to win a first-level allowance sprint on Sunday with a career-top Equibase figure. It’s his fourth win of the year from 10 starts.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: LACE REVOLUTION. Came from last to win a second-level allowance at 63-1 on Saturday.

SECOND STAR: BAAGY. Kevin Joy trainee got up to win a second-level contest from almost 12 lengths out of it. That made it three wins in his last four starts.

THIRD STAR: ARNALDO BOCACHICA. Earned a riding hat trick on Friday, with two wins on Anthony Farrior trainees.

Delaware Park

FIRST STAR: DANIEL CENTENO. Went a perfect 4-for-4 with his Saturday mounts to take control of the jockey’s race.

SECOND STAR: SMITHWICK’S SPICE. Improved to 2-for-2 on the year with a second-level grass sprint victory on Saturday as the 11-10 choice.

THIRD STAR: JUBILEE BRIDGE. One of Centeno’s winners on Saturday was aboard this 5-year-old mare, who sat the trip to win a second-level grass sprint on Saturday at 1-2. She’s now hit the trifecta in all five starts this year.

Monmouth Park

FIRST STAR: SHOTGUN HOTTIE. Finally earned her breakthrough victory on Saturday; could the Molly Pitcher Stakes be next?

SECOND STAR: IRISH BOOLUM. Yet another Jersey-bred stakes winner for Isabelle de Tomaso.

THIRD STAR: LOST ARK. Last year’s Sapling Stakes winner made his sophomore bow a winning one on Friday, winning a second-level allowance route at 1-2.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR: UNCLE ERNIE. Earned his first win of the year on Tuesday with a sharp front-running third-level allowance victory.

SECOND STAR: MAGICNTHEMOONLIGHT. Budding Pennsylvania-bred star made it three wins in a row on Saturday with a strong allowance win against his fellow Keystone staters.

THIRD STAR: MIDNIGHT CHROME. Drew off to easily beat starter allowance foes on Wednesday for his second consecutive victory.