Mid-Atlantic Three Stars: October 2 * The Racing Biz

MID-ATLANTIC THREE STARS: OCTOBER 2

John Piassek
October 2, 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

Interstatedaydream prevailed in the Twixt Stakes. Photo: jeff Snyder/MJC

FIRST STAR: INTERSTATEDAYDREAM. Previously the winner of last year’s Black-Eyed Susan Stakes and this year’s Allaire DuPont Distaff, Staton Flurry’s Interstatedaydream added another Maryland stakes win to her resume on Saturday when she won the Twixt Stakes at Laurel Park by 2 1/2 lengths. Maryland-bred Malibu Beauty led most of the way, but Interstatedaydream, who went postward at 1-5, chased her down late and drew off late under Sheldon Russell. The Brad Cox-trained 4-year-old mare has earned $723,869 in her 13-race career and will be offered at next month’s Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

SECOND STAR: YAMATO. Earlier on the Saturday card, older males traveled 1 1/2 miles in the Japan Turf Cup. Mike Maker turned another high-priced claim into a stakes winner, as Yamato stalked the pace and drove away late to win by 2 1/2 lengths as the 8-5 public choice. He ran the distance over a good grass course in 2:31.60, for owners Paradise Farm Corp. and David Staudacher and jockey Horacio Karamanos. He improved his career record to 10-5-3 from 30 starts, with earnings of $340,350.

THIRD STAR: BROCKNARDINI. Along with Laurel Futurity winner Air Recruit, this filly could be found for the Breeders’ Cup following her win in Saturday’s Selima Stakes at Laurel. She rebounded nicely off a dull effort in the Natalma Stakes, as she rated off the pace and struck the front in the last eighth en route to a 2 1/2-length win. She ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:47.45 for owners Thomas Brockley and Daryn Brockley, trainer George Weaver, and jockey Joe Rocco.

Laurel Park

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FIRST STAR: INTERSTATEDAYDREAM. If this was her last race, at least she went out a winner.

SECOND STAR: YAMOTO. Picked up his first stakes win in style.

THIRD STAR: BROCKNARDINI. Sharing parlayed the Selima into a Breeders’ Cup win four years ago; could Brocknardini do the same?

Charles Town Races

FIRST STARS: KING KONTIE AND JUBAWITHATWIST. Finished in a dead heat in a thrilling renewal of the Henry Mercer Memorial Stakes on Friday.

SECOND STAR: JUBA’S HAT TRICK. Lived up to his name on Thursday, as he made it three in a row (and improved to 4-for-5 lifetime) with a sharp allowance victory.

THIRD STAR: JUBA’S PARADE. Another offspring of Juba; this 3-year-old filly won for the fourth time in her last five starts by beating allowance foes on Saturday.

Delaware Park

FIRST STAR: INTREPID DAYDREAM. Won her second straight race on Thursday by taking the Tax Free Shopping Distaff allowance.

SECOND STAR: NO SABE NADA. Ran down early leader Rebel Empire in the last jump to win Thursday’s New Castle allowance by a nose.

THIRD STAR: COPPER TAX. Delivered in Wednesday’s First State Dash allowance as the odds-on choice.

Meadowlands

Racing at the Meadowlands was cancelled this week due to heavy rain.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR: HOLLYWOOD JET. Went gate-to-wire in an open allowance on Monday for his first win of the year.

SECOND STAR: IRISH EXIT. Returned to the winner’s circle for the first time since April with a hard-fought second-level allowance win on Tuesday.

THIRD STAR: TEN GAUGE. Stalked the pace and kicked away to win a first-level allowance race on Monday.

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