Mid-Atlantic Three Stars: October 30 * The Racing Biz

MID-ATLANTIC THREE STARS: OCTOBER 30

John Piassek
October 30, 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

Veeson #10 ridden by Dexter Haddock nails Prince of Rain #9 by a nose on the wire in the $100,000 Jump Start Stakes at Parx Racing in Bensalem, PA on October 24, 2023. This was the third straight win for the PA-Bred son of Il Villano. Veeson is a homebred for Charles Russo and is trained by Ernesto Padilla-Preciado. Photo by Nikki Sherman/EQUI-PHOTO.

FIRST STAR: VEESON. Tuesday’s feature at Parx was the Jump Start Stakes for Pennsylvania-bred sprinters. Vesson, sent off at 21-1 in the 12-horse field, rallied from far off the pace and got up to nail Prince of Rain on the wire and win by a head. The Chuck Russo-homebred 3-year-old son of Il Villano rapidly climbed the class ladder, having broken his maiden at eighth asking on August 21. Next out, he beat first-level allowance optional claiming foes on September 18, and followed that performance with a victory here. He ran seven furlongs in 1:26.58 for trainer Ernesto Padilla-Preciado and rider Dexter Haddock.

SECOND STAR: LITTLE ROO ROO. This West Virginia-bred star won at Charles Town on Saturday and became the sixth horse in the country to win at least eight races this year. He rebounded from a disappointing effort in the Dash for Cash on Breeders’ Classic night to win a first-level allowance by a neck after stalking the pace and battling late. He won three West Virginia-bred stakes races earlier this year, taking the Coin Collector Stakes, the It’s Only Money Stakes, and the Robert Leavitt Stakes in succession. He was bred by Sherwood Bryant and is owned and trained by Michael Jones. Marshall Mendez was aboard for the winning ride.

THIRD STAR: OUTLIER. A solid field of third-level runners met at Laurel Park on Thursday. Outlier, making his 18th start of the year, earned his second trip to the winner’s circle this season with a 3 3/4-length victory. He set a modest early pace on the inside, then drew off from his rivals and won without much trouble. He ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.93 for owner Built Wright Stables LLC, trainer Ray Ginter, and jockey Jeiron Barbosa.

Laurel Park

HISA announces research into equine sudden deaths
HISA announced it had made grants to support two projects analyzing exercise-associated sudden death among horses.

FIRST STAR: OUTLIER. We could see him in the Richard Small Stakes on Thanksgiving weekend…with a prep in between!

SECOND STARS: JAMIE NESS AND JAIME RODRIGUEZ. Teamed up for three winners on the Sunday card, including one with Ness homebred Speedyness, who pushed his sire, Great Notion, past the $5 million mark in progeny earnings this year.

THIRD STAR: CRISPER. Gobbled up ground late to win a first-level allowance route on grass on Saturday, earning one of the top speed figures of the week in the process.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: LITTLE ROO ROO. He should have a few more chances to get to the double-digit mark in wins this year.

SECOND STAR: ALPHA CHI RHO. Earlier on the Saturday card, this gelding won for the third time in four starts by taking a second-level race as the odds-in choice.

THIRD STAR: SIDESWIPED. This filly rallied from last to beat second-level foes on Thursday for her third victory of the year.

Delaware Park

FIRST STAR: SUMO. Held sway late to win a first-level route on Saturday, for his second consecutive victory.

SECOND STAR: SUPREME LAW. Fought his way through traffic to win a starter optional claiming race on Thursday, for his second win in his last three starts.

THIRD STAR: KEVIN GOMEZ. Turned a hat trick on Thursday, and stands five wins behind meet-leading Jaime Rodriguez with four days left at the meet.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR: VEESON. He’s handled every step up the class ladder with aplomb as of late .

SECOND STAR: NOTICE OF ACTION. Off a win in the Prince Lucky Stakes, this Pennsylvania-bred 2-year-old improved to 3-for-3 lifetime with a sharp first-level win on Wednesday.

THIRD STARS: DAYLOR BERRIOS-LOPEZ AND MYCHEL SANCHEZ. Both riders turned hat tricks last week: Berrios-Lopez on Tuesday, Sanchez on Monday.

“Bittersweet moment” as Hessica hits retirement
Two-time WVBC Cavada winner Hessica couldn’t get one last win, settling for second November 9, but she’s had quite a career for owner-trainer Kristy Petty.