Mid-Atlantic Three Stars: September 5 * The Racing Biz

MID-ATLANTIC THREE STARS: september 5

John Piassek
September 5, 2023

Plenty of racing action took place throughout the Mid-Atlantic this past week.

Here’s a look at the “three stars” of each track:

Region’s Best

Beaute Cachee ridden by Jockey Nik Juarez won the $100,000 Violet Stakes on Saturday September 12, 2023 at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, NJ. Photo by Ryan Denver/EQUI-PHOTO

FIRST STAR: BEAUTE CACHEE. Saturday’s feature race at Monmouth Park was the Violet Stakes, for older fillies and the grass, went to Beaute Cachee. Sent off as the even-money choice in the eight-horse field, she had trouble settling in the early stages under Nik Juarez, but once she did so, she worked out a good trip on the outside of rivals. In the stretch, she kicked by longtime leader Miss Carol Ann and drew off to win by 3 1/4 lengths, going the distance in 1:42.92. The French-bred filly has now won twice in three American starts. She’s owned by Madaket Stables LLC, Michael Dubb, and Louis Lazzinnaro LLC, and trained by Chad Brown.

SECOND STAR: DETERMINED KINGDOM. This Virginia-bred veteran picked up his second stakes win of the Colonial Downs season on Saturday, when he won the Meadow Stable Stakes by a neck. He led for most of the way under Victor Carrasco, and fended off the late charge of Cynergy’s Star to secure the victory. He ran 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:02.08 and improved his career record to 6-2-2 from 18 starts with earnings of $442,189. He’s owned by D Hatman Thoroughbreds and Kingdom Bloodstock Inc and is trained by Phil Schoenthal.

THIRD STAR: STAGE LEFT. Older male sprinters took center stage at Monmouth on Sunday in the Rumson Stakes. Stage Left, who won the King Leatherbury Stakes at Laurel Park earlier this year, withstood early pace pressure and fended off the late challenge of Spun and Won to win by a length. The 7-year-old gelding has now won 11 times from 38 career starts and earned $612,483. He’s owned and trained by David Jacobson and was ridden by Paco LOpez.

Timonium

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FIRST STAR: SWEET SODDY J. Overcame a rough trip to win Saturday’s Timonium Juvenile for owner/breeder Bult Wright Stables LLC.

SECOND STAR: XAVIER PEREZ. Went a perfect 4-for-4 with his mounts on Sunday, three of whom were trained by either Jerry or Gina Robb.

THIRD STARS: DATS MR MO AND IT’S SIZZLING TIME. One of his wins came on Dats Mr Mo, who dead-heated with Valrie Smith-trained It’s Sizzling Time in a thrilling second-level allowance optional claiming contest on Sunday.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: ROCK ROSE. Cruised to victory in a first-level allowance optional claiming race as the favorite on Thursday; she’s now 4-for-9 this year and has hit the board eight times.

SECOND STAR: CHANGE YOUR LUCK. Went gate-to-wire on Saturday for a sharp win against West Virginia-bred allowance foes.

THIRD STAR: MAGGIE’S GIRL. Won a West Virginia-bred allowance contest later on the Saturday card to improve to 4-for-5 lifetime.

Delaware Park

FIRST STAR: RUNAWAY JACK. Made it three wins in a row on Wednesday with a last-to-first victory in a second-level allowance optional claiming sprint.

SECOND STAR: KEVIN GOMEZ. Turned a hat trick on Thursday and Saturday as he closed in on his 500th career win.

THIRD STAR: BATUCADA. Promising filly easily beat a second-level allowance optional claiming field on Wednesday for the first victory of her 3-year-old filly.

Colonial Downs

FIRST STAR: DETERMINED KINGDOM. Picked up another stakes victory in his home state on Saturday.

SECOND STAR; CHAMBEAU. Returned off a seven-day break to win Saturday’s Camptown Stakes.

THIRD STAR: PASSION PLAY. Held on to win the Bert Allen Stakes on Saturday in a three-horse photo finish.

Monmouth Park

FIRST STAR: BEAUTE CHATEE. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: a recent European import trained by Chad Brown won a grass stakes!

SECOND STAR: STAGE LEFT. This veteran sprinter added another notch to his belt last Saturday.

THIRD STAR: FOREVER SOUPER. Picked up his second win in a row on Saturday with a second-level allowance optional claiming score as the odds-on choice.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR: OLIVIA DARLING. Turned the tables on previously undefeated Bourbon Bon Bay with a game victory against open allowance company on Tuesday.

SECOND STAR: SPLICETHEMAINBRACE. Chased down longtime leader Simovitch to win a second-level allowance optional claiming contest on Monday.

THIRD STAR: EXIT RIGHT. Won for the 15th time in 44 career starts with a score in starter allowance company on Wednesday.

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