Region’s Best

FIRST STAR: POST TIME. Sunday’s co-featured event at Laurel Park was the Jennings Stakes, featuring a field of Maryland-bred all-stars going a mile on a sloppy track. Post Time, in his 4-year-old debut, struck the front in the stretch and drew off late, despite racing wide on a rail-favoring strip. He hit the line 6 1/2 lengths in front, going a mile in 1:36.73. That time was good for a Beyer figure of 103 and an Equibase figure of 116. The 2022 Maryland-bred champion 2-year-old is now 6-0-1 from seven career starts, with earnings of $297,910. Bred by the Bowmans, their son Brooke, and the late Milton P. Higgins III, he’s owned by Hillwood Stable LLC, trained by Brittany Russell, and ridden by Sheldon Russell.

SECOND STAR: MALIBU MOONSHINE. One race prior, Maryland-bred fillies and mares took center stage in the Geisha Stakes. In a driving blanket finish, 2022 Maryland-bred champion 2-year-old filly Malibu Moonshine rallied wide to win by a neck. She drafted well off the early leaders,11 lengths off the pace at the first half. Blocked behind horses in the stretch, she angled wide and got up in the final jumps. She ran a mile in 1:40.08, for owner Happy Face Racing Stable, trainer Charlton Baker, and jockey Angel Cruz. She was bred by Dr. Ronald Harris Parker and is by Anchor & Hope Farm stallion Bourbon Courage.

THIRD STAR: ROANAN GODDESS. On Saturday, 3-year-old fillies lined up in the Xtra Heat Stakes. Roanan Goddess, one of two in the race for Mens Grille Racing and trainer Hammy Smith, got the job done by 2 1/4 lengths, thanks to a bold move by Jeiron Barbosa. He took advantage of the golden rail and squeezed his mount through a tight opening in in the stretch, ultimately getting through and getting clear. She ran six furlongs over a muddy track in 1:11.82.

Laurel Park

FIRST STAR: POST TIME. Big things could be ahead for this Maryland-bred star, and not just in the Mid-Atlantic.

SECOND STAR: MALIBU MOONSHINE. Bounced back with a nice victory; hopefully that’ll be the kickstarter to a strong 4-year-old season.

THIRD STAR: ROANAN GODDESS. A smart, daring ride from Barbosa proved the difference.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: O’CONNER SUNSET. Didn’t try to come back in the abandoned Fire Plug, and that proved a smart move. He won a non-winners of three allowance on Thursday at 11-10 as much the best.

SECOND STAR: ADVANCE CASH. Got up after stalking the pace to win a first-level contest on Friday at 14-1, helping trigger a $53,000+ late pick 5 carryover into Saturday.

THIRD STAR: AZZURRA. Improved to 2-for-2 with a win in 2024 on Wednesday with a sharp come-from-behind win in a seven-furlong second-level contest.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR: DISCO EBO. Made her 2024 debut in an open allowance Wednesday, and battled all the way with Golden Tabby for a hard-fought head victory.

SECOND STAR: ABIDALE. A six-time winner in 2023, he earned his first victory of 2024 on Wednesday, digging in after pulling clear to win a starter allowance route.

THIRD STARS: MICHELLE CASTILLO AND JAIME NESS. Both turned a training double on Wednesday, the only day of racing at Parx on the week.