Mid-Atlantic Three Stars: February 12 * The Racing Biz

MID-ATLANTIC THREE STARS: february 12

John Piassek
February 12, 2024

Plenty of racing action took place throughout the Mid-Atlantic this past week.

Here’s a look at the “three stars” of each track:

Region’s Best

FIRST STARS: FOREST BOYCE AND CAL LYNCH. Laurel Park hosted a pair of four-digit milestones this weekend. On Friday, Maryland veteran Forest Boyce guided home her 1,000th career winner, riding Phil Schoenthal trainee Determined Driver to a 1 3/4-length victory in her 2024 debut. Boyce, who began her professional riding career in 2009, has ridden in more than 7,000 races and has more than $35 million in purse earnings. On Saturday, Lynch, who arrived in the United States from his native Northern Ireland in 1996 and registered his first training victory in 1997, picked up his 1,000th, sending out Mosler Time to a three-length maiden-breaking score with Carlos Lopez up.

SECOND STAR: MUAD’DIB. This West Virignia-bred star, unraced since a third-place effort in the Nov. 18 Randy Funkhouser Memorial Stakes, made his 7-year-old debut in an allowance optional claiming contest on Wednesday at Charles Town. Sent off as the 1-10 choice, he had an awkward break and drafted in next-to-last place early on, but rallied five-wide on the final turn and got up over Remys Showtime to win by a half-length. The victory improved his career record to 15-2-2, with earnings of $916,178. Bred by John McKee, he’s owned by David Raim, trained by Jeff Runco, and ridden by Arnaldo Bocachica.

THIRD STAR: TENEBRIS. Sent off as the 11-10 favorite in the first division of a second-level sprint for the boys on Sunday at Laurel Park, this 6-year-old gelding made an early last-to-first brush to the front and held on in the stretch to win by a half-length, withstanding a late fight from Golden Candy. It was his fourth consecutive victory, and his second in a row at this level. He ran six furlongs in 1:11.26, going 0.39 seconds faster than Rominski, the winner of the other division, did. Jeiron Barbosa was up for owners Thoroneck Corp and Floresta and trainer Bruno Tessore.

Laurel Park

Grade 3 winner Warrant to stand at Murmur Farm
Warrant, a Grade 3 winner by Consitution, will stand at Maryland’s Murmur Farm in 2025 after having stood in Pennsylvania in 2024.

FIRST STARS: FOREST BOYCE AND CAL LYNCH. A pair of big milestones for a pair of local stars.

SECOND STAR: ROMINSKI. We’ll see if he gets a chance to extend his winning streak against better last out.

THIRD STAR: ANONYMOUSLY. Bounced back after a dull try on a wet track to win a second-level sprint on Saturday over a fast surface; she’s now won six in a row sprinting on a fast track.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: MUAD’DIB. Already a West Virginia-bred legend, he’s on the verge of becoming a millionaire.

SECOND STAR: AZZURRA. She’s a perfect 3-for-3 on the year following a victory in an open allowance sprint on Saturday, battling on the pace while wide and holding clear late.

THIRD STAR: SOCIAL CHIC. Stakes-placed four times last year, he started his 2024 on a winning note in an open allowance point on Wednesday, winning in gate-to-wire style.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR: ELISEO RUIZ. Turned a riding hat trick on both Monday and Tuesday.

SECOND STAR: COUNTERSPY. Set the pace and crushed a first-level group by 7 1/2 lengths on Wednesday.

THIRD STAR: THRISTY PAPPY. Made it two victories in a row on Monday, stalking the pace and winning a starter optional claiming contest in hand.

“Bittersweet moment” as Hessica hits retirement
Two-time WVBC Cavada winner Hessica couldn’t get one last win, settling for second November 9, but she’s had quite a career for owner-trainer Kristy Petty.