Region’s Best

FIRST STAR: JAMIE NESS. One of the mid-Atlantic’s top trainers achieved a major career milestone on Sunday at Laurel Park when he sent out Sing Scat to a gate-to-wire win in the 1st race. That was the 4,000th victory in Ness’s 24-year career, as he became the 13th trainer in history to achieve that feat. A few races later, Ness earned career victory 4,001 when Starship Laoban won the 3rd race, followed by #4,002 with Parish Belle in race 8. Ness is currently in second place in the Laurel training standings with 17 victories, trailing only the 18 wins of Brittany Russell.

SECOND STAR: HYBRID ECLIPSE. Speaking of Russell, she earned another stakes victory in dramatic fashion on Saturday at Laurel Park. Hybrid Eclipse lagged well behind in the early stages of the Caesar’s Wish Stakes, and remained five lengths off Award Wanted and Intrepid Daydream as they passed the eighth pole. However, Hybrid Eclipse found her best stride late and got up to win by a neck, for her second consecutive Caesar’s Wish win. She ran a mile in 1:37.28 and improved her record to 8-2-5 from 22 starts with earnings of $508,324. She’s owned by the Elkstone Group LLC and was ridden by Joe Rocco.

THIRD STAR: EONS. Earlier on the Saturday card, Eons picked up his second consecutive win in the Prince George’s County Stakes. He raced three-wide on both turns, but struck the front in the stretch and fended off Pao Alto to defeat that rival in an exciting stretch battle. This was the sixth stakes wins of this 7-year-old’s career, and boosted his career earnings to $634,985. Victor Carrasco had the winning mount for owner Mark Grier and trainer Arnaud Delacour.

Laurel Park

FIRST STAR: JAMIE NESS. Earned the highlight of a banner year on Sunday.

SECOND STAR: HYBRID ECLIPSE. Completed a dramatic comeback and earned another stakes win at Laurel Park.

THIRD STAR: EONS. Another notch in the belt of this hard-knocking turfer.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: PENGUIN POWER. Picked up his first win of his 8-year-old season with a neck victory in a blanket finish against open company Saturday.

SECOND STAR: NEVER COMPROMISE. Made it four in a row and 6-for-8 on the year with a first-level allowance victory on Thursday.

THIRD STAR: AXEL CONCEPCION. Won two races each on the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday programs.

Delaware Park

FIRST STAR: REALLY GOOD. Closed furiously to win Saturday’s Kent Stakes in the last few jumps for his first stakes victory.

SECOND STAR: THIRTY THOU KELVIN. Took control up the backstretch and kicked away to win the Christiana Stakes earlier on the Saturday card.

THIRD STAR: BERKS. Made it four wins in a row with a determined nose victory against Delaware-certified foes on Thursday.

Colonial Downs

FIRST STAR: DETERMINED KINGDOM. Drew off impressively in the stretch to win Saturday’s Punch Line Stakes for the second year in a row as the odds-on favorite; the Punch Line was one of four stakes races for Virginia-bred/sired horses on the program.

SECOND STAR; ALEX JOON. Surged to victory after a mid-pack trip in the Edward P. Evans Stakes on Saturday.

THIRD STAR: GALILEI. Chased down longtime leader Tufani to get up and win Saturday’s Brookmeade Stakes.

Monmouth Park

FIRST STAR: SWEET CHERRY PIE. Battled for the early lead and drew off to win the off-the-grass My Frenchman Stakes by 4 1/4 lengths on Sunday.

SECOND STAR: BEAUTY OF THE SEA. Surged late to win Saturday’s Blue Sparkler Stakes in a 13-1 upset.

THIRD STAR: BENEVENGO. Returned to the races in style on Friday with a dominant third-level allowance victory.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR: LA CIENEGA. Battled for the lead and held on to win her season debut against first-level allowance company on Wednesday.

SECOND STAR: DAYDREAMING BOY. Picked up his third win of the year with a six-length first-level allowance score on Monday.

THIRD STAR: DON’TLOOKBACKATALL. Went gate-to-wire to win a Pennsylvania-bred allowance race on Monday for her first win of the year after two runner-up finishes.