Region’s Best

FIRST STAR: IDIOMATIC. Saturday’s Delaware Handicap provided a great stretch battle between favored Idiomatic and second choice Classy Edition. After an awkward start, Florent Geroux had Idiomatic in prime position on the far turn, and looked ready to blow by pace-setting Classy Edition. However, under Kendrick Carmouche, Idiomatic fought back, and the two duked it out down the Delaware stretch. Ultimately, Idiomatic got the better of her rival, winning by a head while covering 1 3/16 miles in 1:56.41. It’s her third stakes win of the year, following victories in the Shawnee Stakes at Churchill Downs and the Latonia Stakes at Turfway Park. She’s a homebred for Juddmonte Farms trained by Brad Cox.

SECOND STAR: DOPPELGANGER. Earlier on the card, Doppelganger, who won the Carter Handicap at Aqueduct earlier in the year, picked up a win in the Battery Park Stakes, for his fourth win in five starts this year. The race was scratched to a three-horse field, and was considered a match race between Doppelganger and Ridin With Biden. That rival set the early pace, but Doppelganger moved to the front on the turn and drew off to win by 2 1/4 lengths. Forewarned rallied to edge Ridin With Biden for second. The winner is owned by the SF Racing LLC and Starlight Racing-led syndicate, trained by Brittany Russell, and ridden by Jevian Toledo.

THIRD STAR: CLAUDIO GONZALEZ. Last year’s leading trainer at Monmouth Park had a great day at the seaside oval on Sunday, winning four races. He swept the early double, winning race 1 with Outlaw Country, ridden by Nik Juarez, and race 2 with Stephanie My Love, with Jomar Torres aboard. After a second-place finish in the 4th race, he bounced back to win race 5 with Voice of Spring, ridden by Luis Rivera Jr. In the 7th race, he completed the grand slam, as favored Politely Crowned lasted through pace pressure to win under Carlos Rojas. Gonzalez’s big day catapulted him atop this year’s trainer standings, with 17 wins from 84 starters.

Laurel Park

FIRST STAR: ZABRACADABRA. Beat a stakes-quality field in open allowance company on Friday, improving his record on the year to 3-for-5.

SECOND STAR: YODEL E.A. WHO. Rallied late to win a third-level contest on Saturday, handling the stretch-out around two turns without an issue.

THIRD STAR: CIRCLING THE DRAIN. Well-meant Maryland-bred 3-year-old beat his elders in Maryland-bred allowance company; wouldn’t be surprising to see him win a stakes on grass by year’s end.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: CLASSIER. Handily beat a stakes-quality allowance field on Saturday, in a nice rebound effort.

SECOND STAR: ABNEL BOCACHICA. Earned his first career victory on Saturday, guiding Hovel to a last-to-first win at 13-1.

THIRD STAR: MARSHALL MENDEZ. Rode three winners on Thursday’s card, including a sweep of the late double.

Delaware Park

FIRST STAR: IDIOMATIC. Continued a big season with a determined DelCap victory.

SECOND STAR: DOPPELGANGER. He’s been a new horse since arriving on the east coast earlier this year.

THIRD STAR: ALVA STARR. This 3-year-old filly beat her elders impressively in her stakes debut Saturday, taking the Dashing Beauty Stakes while running six furlongs in 1:09.34.

Monmouth Park

FIRST STAR: CLAUDIO GONZALEZ. Made a bold move to try and capture another training title this weekend.

SECOND STAR: HE’SPUREGOLD. Rallied off a hot pace to win Sunday’s Irish War Cry Handicap against fellow Jersey-breds, completing a three-peat in that race.

THIRD STAR: PRECIOUS AVARY. This daughter of Country Life Farm stallion Divining Rod went gate-to-wire against fellow Jersey-breds to win Saturday’s Jersey Girl Handicap at 22-1.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR: ALLEVARE. Sat a perfect trip to win a second-level route on Monday, for his fourth win in his last seven starts.

SECOND STAR: QUICK TEMPO. Made quick work in a front-running starter allowance win on Wednesday, defeating Beverly Park in the process.

THIRD STAR: PACO LOPEZ. Rode three winners home on Monday’s card, including Allevare.