Region’s Best

FIRST STAR: CIRCLE P. With a strong late rally, Circle P got up and earned his first stakes victory in Saturday’s Maryland Juvenile Stakes at Laurel Park. He rated in sixth place early on, while favorites Catahoula Moon and Speedyness battled each other for the early lead. Catahoula Moon took control at the top of the stretch and opened up a three-length lead, but the early fractions did him in, and Circle P gobbled up ground late for a 1 3/4-length win. This Maryland-bred gelding, bred by Marathon Farms Inc, broke his maiden at Laurel on Oct. 15, and finished third in a first-level contest two weeks afterwards. He’s owned by DeSales 85 LLC, trained by Flint Stites, and ridden by Ricardo Chiappe.

SECOND STAR: KiSSEDBYANANGEL. One race prior, Kissedbyanangel made it two wins in a row by taking the Maryland Juvenile Filly Stakes by two lengths. She broke well from post position seven and quickly opened up a clear early lead. From there, no one could catch her, and she won as much the best under Angel Cruz. She was claimed out of her debut victory for $12,500 from her breeder, Super C Racing Inc, by current owner/trainer Joanne Shankle. In her prior start, she beat a first-level field by 2 1/4 lengths on Nov. 17.

THIRD STAR: CAPO. Earlier in the week, Pennsylvania-bred 2-year-olds battled it out in the Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes. Capo, off a maiden win at Churchill Downs last out, pulled off a 23-1 upset in an exciting finish. He rated off the pace early on, then moved after the leaders in the three-path on the turn. Him and Twilight Dreaming battled down the stretch, and although Twilight Dreaming came back at him late on the rail, Capo had enough left late to win by a nose. Bred by A1A Racing, he’s owned and trained by Jacinto Solis and ridden by Kendrick Carmouche.

Laurel Park

FIRST STAR: CIRCLE P. Made his stakes debut a winning one with his come-from-behind move.

SECOND STAR: KISSEDBYANANGEL. She’s won two straight after racing on or near the pace, and looks like a good investment for Joanne Shankle.

THIRD STAR: BENEATH THE STARS. Rallied to win a third-level dash on Friday for her third straight victory, upsetting heavily favored Quick Munny in the process.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: DERBY DAY DREAMS. This West Virginia-bred Donna Jean Swaim homebred got up in the last few jumps to win a conditioned allowance dash on Wednesday in a 17-1 upset, for his second win of the year.

SECOND STAR: UNCAPTURED RUBY. Picked up her second win in three starts since coming back from a 16-month layoff on Saturday, taking a first-level allowance at 27-1.

THIRD STAR: BOSS E BOOGS. Sat the trip and got up to win a West Virginia-bred allowance contest going away on Friday.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR: CAPO. Earned his first stakes victory in game fashion.

SECOND STAR: SIMOVITCH. Another big winner from the Solis barn; this one took a second-level race on Monday in game, front-running style.

THIRD STAR: ABIDALE. Earned her sixth win of the year by beating starter allowance company on Monday.