Region’s Best

FIRST STAR: SAUDI CROWN. The Saturday feature, and the feature of the entire Parx Racing season, was the Pennsylvania Derby. Saudi Crown, off a runner-up finish in the Jim Dandy Stakes last out, lived up to the 11-10 expectations, as he set the early pace and held off the late rally of Dreamlike to win by a half-length. The victory improved his career record to 3-2-0 from five starts, with earnings of $817,085, and sets him up as a potential contender for the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Florent Geroux had the mount on the sloppy track for owners FMQ Stables and trainer Brad Cox.

SECOND STAR: CEILING CRUSHER. One race prior, 3-year-old fillies took center stage in the Cotillion Stakes. Cal-bred Ceiling Crusher, making her first start outside of her home state, ran a similar race as the one Saudi Crown would run. She set the early pace and held off favored Pretty Mischievous to win by a half-length. It was her fourth stakes win of the year, her second in graded stakes company, and was the second grade 1 win for her rider, Edwin Maldonado. She’s owned by Wonderland Racing Stables LLC, Todd Cady, Tim Kasparoff, and Ty Leatherman and trained by Doug O’Neill.

THIRD STAR: NEXT. There were plenty of other exciting stakes winners on the Saturday Parx card, including the ever-popular Damon’s Mound in the Gallant Bob Stakes and the Pennsylvania-bred Nimitz Class in the Parx Dirt Mile. However, Next might’ve been the most impressive of them all. Sent off as the 1-5 favorite in the 12-furlong Greenwood Cup, he lived up to expectations and then some, winning by 25 lengths in a gate-to-wire score. He was pressed early on by local favorite Ridin With Biden, but dismissed that rival’s challenge and kept opening up in the stretch. He’s now won three stakes races this year, and five in the past 13 months. He’s owned by Michael Foster, trained by William Cowans, and ridden by Luan Machado.

Pimlico

FIRST STAR: POST TIME. Made his 3-year-old debut a winning one on Friday with an impressive second-level win; could he become a Maryland-bred Honor Code type?

SECOND STAR: JEVIAN TOLEDO. Earned his 1,500th career win on Sunday, guiding Brittany Russell-trained Low Society to victory.

THIRD STAR: JOHNYZ FROM ALBANY. Crushed a second-level allowance field on Sunday, setting him up nicely for a potential bid in the Maryland Million Sprint.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: DIRECT THE CAT. Rising West Virginia-bred 2-year-old star soundly beat the field in Friday’s Rachel’s Turn Stakes, winning by almost seven lengths for owner/trainer Cynthia McKee.

SECOND STAR: LARRY REYNOLDS. Recently returned to riding after a 10-year absence, and picked up the first win of his comeback on Friday, guiding Moonlit Shadow to victory.

THIRD STAR: LITTLE ROO ROO. Picked up his seventh win of the year with a sharp allowance win on Thursday.

Delaware Park

FIRST STAR: DIA DE SOL. Secured her fourth win of the year from 12 starts with a sharp 6 1/2-length starter optional claiming win on Wednesday.

SECOND STAR: GEE WIZ. Jersey-bred 2-year-old filly improved to 2-for-2 lifetime with a 6 1/4-length score against first-level allowance foes later on Wednesday.

THIRD STAR: DISCO DEVIL. Stalked the pace and beat starter optional claiming foes going away on Thursday.

Meadowlands

FIRST STAR: PACO LOPEZ. Won four of the six races on Friday’s program.

SECOND STAR: SEA MAIDEN. Lasted on the pace and drew off late to beat Jersey-bred allowance foes on Friday.

THIRD STAR: WHITE LILACS. Won a starter allowance race on Friday for her fourth win of the year; she hasn’t missed the exacta in six starts this season.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR: SAUDI CROWN. He’s emerged as perhaps the most potent 3-year-old bullet in the Cox chamber.

SECOND STAR: CEILING CRUSHER. She could be getting good at precisely the right time.

THIRD STAR: NEXT. His connections didn’t sound too eager about a Breeders’ Cup Classic bid; will they change their mind?