Region’s Best

FIRST STAR: COASTAL MISSION. This West Virginia-bred superstar continued his dominant campaign on Saturday, when he splashed his way to a dominant 5 3/4-length win in the Sam Huff West Virginia Breeders’ Classic. Off a win against open company in the Russell Road Stakes last out, he went off at 1-5 in the 1 1/8-mile contest. He made his way to the front early on and never looked back, opening up an advantage of 8 1/2 lengths at one point. Stablemate Muad’dib cut into the margin a bit, but the wire came in plenty of time for Coastal Mission. He’s now 8-for-9 on the year, with a perfect record on the Charles Town oval. He’s a homebred for trainer Jeff Runco’s Coleswood Farm, ridden by Arnaldo Bocachica. He’s a son of Northview’s Great Notion.

SECOND STAR: AIN’T DA BEER COLD. Saturday’s Maryland Million Classic was a thriller, as Market Maven and longshot Ain’t Da Beer Cold battled down the stretch. Although Market Maven crossed the wire a winner by a neck, the objection sign went up after the race. After looking at the stretch run for a few minutes, the stewards ruled that his bumping of Ain’t Da Beer Cold in the last eighth had made the difference in the race, and elevated the 35-1 Ain’t Da Beer Cold to victory. The son of former Country Life Farm stallion Freedom Child was bred by Matt Spencer and Kelly Jo Cox and is owned by Cox, Spencer, and Bonuccelli Racing. Jevian Toledo, who won four races on the card, was aboard for trainer Kenny Cox, in his first Maryland Million victory.

THIRD STAR: INTREPID DAYDREAM. Fortune smiled on Intrepid Daydream on Saturday. Thanks to a trio of scratches, including the late withdrawal of Malibu Moonshine, the Larry Fowler Jr. homebred was able to draw into the Maryland Million Distaff off the also-eligible list. She went off as the even-money choice in a field of eight that included the likes of Fille d’Esprit, Luna Belle, and Response Time, and drew off to win by three lengths after stalking the pace. She’s now won three six-figure races in less than a month, adding the Distaff to wins in the Shine Again Stakes and the Tax Free Shopping Distaff. Toledo had the winning mount for trainer Gary Capuano.

Laurel Park

FIRST STAR: AIN’T DA BEER COLD. Gave his trainer his first Maryland Million win in dramatic fashion.

SECOND STAR: INTREPID DAYDREAM. She’s hit her best stride, and has become a horse to be reckoned with on the local scene.

THIRD STAR: SEVEN’S ELEVEN. Drew off to win the Maryland Million Sprint impressively; looks like a horse to watch for next year.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: COASTAL MISSION. He’s etched his place in West Virginia-bred lore with his dominant season.

SECOND STAR: PENGUIN POWER. Turned in a history-making performance in the Dash for Cash Breeders’ Classic; he’s now won a Breeders’ Classic race in five consecutive years.

THIRD STAR: NO CHANGE. Went last-to-first to win the Onion Juice Breeders’ Classic going away.

Delaware Park

FIRST STAR: COPPER TAX. Made it four wins in a row with a victory in Saturday’s Rocky Run Stakes.

SECOND STAR: RINGY DINGY. Came from last to win Friday’s White Clay Creek Stakes as the 1-5 choice.

THIRD STAR: IZZYBELLA. Stalked the pace and got up to win a first-level race on grass Thursday, for her third win of the year and seventh top-two finish in nine starts this season.

Meadowlands

FIRST STAR: LUIS RIVERA JR. Won three races on Friday, the final day of a very soggy Meadowlands season.

SECOND STAR: JESTERS HONOR. One of Rivera’s winners was on this Jersey-bred, who lasted through pace pressure to win a second-level race as he meet’s finale.

THIRD STAR: OUTLAW COUNTRY. Picked up his fourth win in his last five starts with a first-level dash victory on Friday.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR: WARRIOR’S RANSOM. Won for the fourth time this year on Tuesday with a second-level allowance victory, winning by more than four lengths under a hand ride late.

SECOND STAR: HOKU. Pounced and held on late to win a first-level race on grass earlier on the Tuesday program.

THIRD STAR: GIRLFROMOUTERSPACE. Won a Pennsylvania-bred allowance race on Wednesday, converting a stalking trip to victory as the favorite.