Region’s Best

FIRST STAR: GREELEY AND BEN. This 9-year-old fan favorite earned his 25th career win on Saturday with a dramatic victory in the Dave’s Friend Stakes. He drafted well off the pace in the early stages, then swung extremely wide in the stretch under Jevian Toledo and gobbled up ground in the center of the track. He timed his rally just right and won by a half-length, with Dollarization rallying up the rail to get second in a blanket finish. Greeley and Ben’s now earned $981,138 in his 42-race career, and has won at least one race in every year in which he’s made a start. He’s owned by Darryl Abramowitz and trained by Horacio de Paz.

SECOND STAR: DOUBLE CROWN. Another hard-knocker found his way into the Laurel winner’s circle on Saturday, as Double Crown, in his 18th start of the year, took the Robert T. Manfuso Stakes by a nose. He drafted off early leader Offaly Cool while that odds-on rival set the early pace. He made his move after the leader in the stretch, but Offaly cool refused to give in, and the two raced towards the wire together. Double Crown ended up getting his nose down in front for his second stakes victory of the season, after previously winning the Polynesian Stakes in September. He now sports a career record of 9-10-5 from 44 starts, with earnings of $838,185. Jeiron Barbosa was aboard this Maryland-bred gelding for owner Built Wright Stables LLC and trainer Raymond Ginter Jr.

THIRD STAR: SADDLE UP JESSIE. In between those two performances, Saddle Up Jessie earned her first stakes victory and her fourth win in her last six starts with a 4 1/4-length score in the Carousel Stakes. With Toledo aboard, she stalked early leader Peyton Elizabeth, took advantage when that rival tired, and held sway late for a convincing victory. She’s owned by Michael Ryan and trained by Brittany Russell.

Laurel Park

FIRST STAR: GREELEY AND BEN. On the doorstep of the $1 million mark as he prepares for his 10-year-old season.

SECOND STAR: DOUBLE CROWN. Another easy-to-love gelding.

THIRD STAR: SADDLE UP JESSIE. Excited to see what she does in her 5-year-old season.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR: MOVISITOR. This Pennsylvania-bred stakes winner capped his 3-year-old campaign in style on Wednesday, taking a third-level allowance in style by 2 3/4 lengths after leading by seven lengths at one point.

SECOND STAR: YOUNG SQUIRE. Made it three wins in a row and five on the year on Wednesday with a three-length win in a first-level sprint.

THIRD STAR: CAUSES TROUBLE. Won for the seventh times this year on Tuesday by taking a starter allowance sprint in gate-to-wire fashion.