Region’s Best

FIRST STAR: MAGIC MICHAEL. Friday’s feature at Laurel Park featured a stout field of third-level older horses going 1 1/16 miles. Magic Michael, sent off as the 5-2 second choice, drafted in last place early on, while Outlier and Berks set the early pace. As they moved around the final turn, Magic Michael made his move, angling off the rail and moving three-wide. He took charge at the eighth pole and drew off to win by 1 1/4 lengths. The 6-year-old gelding didn’t make his 2023 debut until September 15, but has since won twice and hit the board three times in four starts, with earnings of $88,660. Lifetime, he has a career record of 12-8-2 from 34 starts, with earnings of $530,083. His most important win came in the 2021 Greenwood Cup, when he won that grade 3 event by a neck. Jaime Rodriguez had the winning mount on Friday for owners Morris Kernan Jr, Yo Berbs Racing, and trainer Jamie Ness.

SECOND STAR: DIVINE FASHION. On Thursday, this Maryland-bred 4-year-old filly became the third American horse, and second Charles Town-based horse, to win nine races on the year when she won a starter allowance by 2 1/4 lengths. Sent off as the 9-10 favorite in the five-horse, 6 1/2-furlong contest, she battled early on with Betcha by Golly, then pulled clear as they moved up the backstretch. Betcha By Golly moved to reengage on the turn, but Divine Fashion pulled clear once again for the victory. In 16 starts on the year, she has a record of 9-3-2 with earnings of $129,772. Never Compromise is the other Charles Town-based runner with nine victories, having done so in 13 starts. Divine Fashion is owned by Richard Burnsworth, trained by Anthony Farrior, and ridden by Arnaldo Bocachica.

THIRD STAR: JOSHUA ORTIZ. In just his 12th career ride, Ortiz picked up his first riding victory on Monday at Parx. He put 22-1 shot Tiempo Perfecto on a long early lead, opening up by six lengths in the first quarter-mile, and from there he had enough left late to win. Ortiz had previously ridden six times at Camarero Race Track in Puerto Rico earlier this year, and started riding at Parx in mid-November.

Laurel Park

FIRST STAR: MAGIC MICHAEL. He’s on the nominee list for the Robert Manfuso Stakes in two weeks; wouldn’t be surprising at all to see him there.

SECOND STAR: REGALO. Drew off after battling on the pace to win a first-level race for 2-year-olds on Saturday.

THIRD STAR: MARTINI MARTIN. Made it three straight with a rail-skimming victorious rally in a first-level contest on Sunday.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: DIVINE FASHION. She might not have time to make it ten wins before the end of the Charles Town season, but she nonetheless had a fantastic campaign.

SECOND STAR: DUNCAN IDAHO. The full brother to Late Night Pow Wow and Muad’dib continues to make a name for himself; he crushed an allowance field at 1-10 by 3 1/4 lengths on Thursday.

THIRD STAR: BY ITS ABSENCE. Made it three straight wins on Saturday, taking an open first-level race by 2 1/2 lengths as the slight favorite.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR: JOSHUA ORTIZ. Monday’s opener is one he won’t forget any time soon.

SECOND STARS: DEXTER HADDOCK AND ELISEO RUIZ. Both riders turned hat tricks last week: Haddock on Tuesday, Ruiz on Wednesday.

THIRD STAR: BUMP N RUN. Won a first-level sprint by more than nine lengths on Wednesday for his second consecutive victory.