Region’s Best

FIRST STAR: TENEBRIS. Saturday’s feature at Laurel Park was a second-level sprint at six furlongs. Tenebris made it three wins in a row in a 3 1/2-length triumph. Sent off at 6-1, he rated in the four-path off early leader Going to the Lead, then was asked for run while wide on the turn. He took control with a furlong to go, as Jeopardy James fought him on the inside, and pulled clear late for the victory. He ran six furlongs in 1:11.71, for owners Thoroneck Corp and Floresta, trainer Bruno Tessore, and jockey Jean Briceno.

SECOND STAR: BACKATYA. Another winning streak continued at Charles Town on Wednesday, as Backatya made it four wins in a row by taking a starter optional claiming race by a length. Pit Stop Man went to the front early on in the 6 1/2 furlong contest, while Backatya rated off him in second. Backatya wore down the leader in the stretch, then fended off the late challenge of odds-on choice Ridiculous for the victory. This is the third track Backatya has won at during his winning streak, following a victory at Laurel and a pair of scores at Mahoning Valley. He’s owned by Ultra Championship Racing LLC and trained by Anthony Farrior.

THIRD STAR: MY FLICKER. This 6-year-old mare won for the fourth time in her last six starts on Sunday, taking a second-level sprint for fillies and mares by 3 1/4 lengths. Sent off as the slight 2-1 favorite in the seven-horse field, she rated towards the back of the pack on the inside early, then came up the rail in the stretch under Tais Lyapustina and kicked on to victory. She was the eighth consecutive Maryland-bred winner on the card, a streak that was snapped in the ninth race. She’s owned by Team Gaudet and Lederle Racing LLC and trained by the white-hot Lacey Gaudet.

Laurel Park

FIRST STAR: TENEBRIS. Continues his climb up the class ladder.

SECOND STAR: MY FLICKER. Tuned in a nice rail-skimming victory to continue a solid streak.

THIRD STAR: FULL IRISH. Another promising Gaudet trainee; this one drew off to win a first-level race earlier on the Sunday after lasting through fast fractions.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: BACKATYA. Looks like he could make a boatload in starter races this year for the Farrior barn.

SECOND STAR: AZZURRA. West Virginia-bred veteran pulled a 13-1 upset against state-bred allowance foes on Wednesday.

THIRD STAR: ELLE’SBIGSEACRET. Won her third straight on Wednesday by taking a starter allowance dash as the odds-n choice; she’s now hit the exacta in 23 of 44 career starts.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR: LAYTOWN. Broke through after a string of runner-up finishes to take a first-level route Wednesday after getting challenged on the pace.

SECOND STAR: MIDLANER. Made his first start since a May a winning one on Monday, rallying to win a first-level sprint in a 16-1 upset.

THIRD STAR: EMIRATES AFFAIR. Took the field coast-to-coast in a first-level route for fillies in mares in a 15-1 upset on Monday.