Region’s Best

FIRST STAR: CATNIP. The headliner of Monmouth Park’s Haskell Preview Day last Saturday was the Monmouth Stakes. Catnip, a homebred for John and Susan Moore, came from off the pace and got up over Never Explain to win by a half-length. It was his third consecutive win and his first stakes victory. He covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.40 on a firm grass course for trainer Mike Stidham and jockey Joel Rosario. He’s now 4-for-7 lifetime with earnings of $239,849.

SECOND STAR: PETULANTE. One race earlier, in the Salvator Mile, the up-and-coming Petulante defeated Nimitz Class in a thrilling stretch run. Under Luis Saez, he rated off the pace towards the inside, then chased after the leaders in the stretch. Nimitz Class, who raced wide most of the way, tried to resist his challenge, but Petulante proved too much and crossed the wire a half-length in front. Saez dismounted him after the wire, but the 4-year-old gray colt walked back to the winner’s circle for the winning photo and was doing fine in the barn after the race. He’s owned by Lugamo Racing Stable LLC and trained by Victor Barboza Jr, for his third career graded stakes win.

THIRD STAR: JAIME RODRIGUEZ. When Strugar crossed the wire 1 1/2 lengths in front in Delaware Park’s 4th race on Thursday, it was a milestone win for Jaime Rodriguez. He earned his 2,000th career victory in that race, the latest milestone in an excellent career. Rodriguez began riding in 2010 and began enjoying his greatest success upon moving his tack to the mid-Atlantic in 2020. Last year, he set a career-high in victories with 243 and earnings with $7.5 million. This year, he’s won 86 races with earnings of $3.2 million and leads the Delaware rider standings with 11 winners from 50 mounts.

Laurel Park

FIRST STAR: BOSSERATI. This daughter of Anchor & Hope Farm stallion Holy Boss made it three in a row on grass in Sunday’s Stormy Blues Stakes.

SECOND STAR: BE BETTER. Continued his ascension back to career-best form with a sharp third-level allowance win on Saturday; stakes company is likely next.

THIRD STAR: DOCTOR DAVIS. Took them gate-to-wire to win a third-level allowance contest on grass earlier in the Saturday card, for his second straight victory in Maryland.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: LITTLE ROO ROO. Picked up his fifth win of the year and second consecutive stakes victory with a 2 1/4-length win in Saturday’s It’s Only Money Stakes.

SECOND STAR: MUAD’DIB. Made it back to the winner’s circle for the first time this year with an allowance win on Friday.

THIRD STAR: ACADIAN GIRL. Cruised to a sharp gate-to-wire win in starter allowance company on Saturday, her second win of the year.

Delaware Park

FIRST STAR: JAIME RODRIGUEZ. His 2,000th win is another line on an ever-growing resume.

SECOND STAR: THREES OVER DEUCES. A frequent check-getter, but rarely a winner, he found his way into the winner’s circle with a nose victory in Wednesday’s featured third-level event.

THIRD STAR: RAMBERT. Sat the trip and kicked away to win a second-level contes ton the grass Thursday in her first start of the year.

Monmouth Park

FIRST STAR: CATNIP. If there was a United Nations Stakes future book…

SECOND STAR: PETULANTE. They’re not likely to throw him to the wolves yet, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he won a few more graded stakes this year.

THIRD STAR: SALUTE THE STARS. Closed from well out of it to win the Monmouth Pegasus Stakes on Saturday over Louisiana Derby winner Kingsbarns.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR: BIPARTIANSHIP. Came with a dramatic rush to win Saturday’s PTHA President’s Cup for As One Racing LLC, CMNWLTH, and Harty, Graham Motion, and Jevian Toledo.

SECOND STAR: RIDIN WITH BIDEN. Made his first start in almost five months on Sunday and beat open allowance foes; could be in line for a solid second half of the year.

THIRD STAR: PACO LOPEZ. Went a perfect 4-for-4 with his Monday mounts.