Region’s Best

FIRST STAR: POST TIME. Maryland-bred star Post Time lived up to the 1-5 hype on Saturday, taking the Grade 3 General George Stakes at Laurel Park by three lengths. He rated towards the back of the pack early on in the seven-furlong affair, then got stuck in some traffic at the top of the stretch. Sheldon Russell angled him towards the center of the track into clear sailing, and from there, he made the front without trouble and drew off. He’s now a four-time stakes winner in his eight-race career, and is a perfect 7-for-7 in his home state. Just like in the Jennings Stakes last out, he ran a giant speed figure, earning a 103 Beyer figure and a 116 Equibase figure. He’s owned by Ellen Charles’s Hillwood Stable LLC and trained by Brittany Russell.

SECOND STAR: APPLE PICKER. The Russells also prevailed in the other graded stakes race of the day, the Grade 3 Barbara Fritchie Stakes. Most recently second in the Willa On the Move Stakes in late December, this Michael Dubb-owned filly rated in last early on, then split horses in the stretch and prevailed by a length. She improved to her record to 4–20 from 12 starts, with earnings of $330,783. This was her second stakes victory, following win in the Weather Vane Stakes last September.

THIRD STAR: IT’S SIZZLING TIME. The first stakes race on Laurel’s Saturday card, the John B. Campbell Stakes, saw an upset and milestone. Fresh off a 34-1 victory in a a third-level contest on Dec. 31, He went off at 11-1 in the nine-horse field on Saturday, and rallied up the inside in the stretch and got up over Double Crown to win by a nose. It was the first stakes victory in the career of this trainer, Valrie Smith. This 6-year-old gelding covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:52.64, and boosted his career record to 7-7-7 from 40 starts with earnings of $307,766. He’s owned by Chuckie Inc and Mona Bowley and was ridden by Jean Briceno.

Laurel Park

FIRST STAR: POST TIME. The sky’s the limit as his national profile grows larger.

SECOND STAR: APPLE PICKER. Kicked off a big day, and continued a big year, for the first couple of Maryland racing.

THIRD STAR: IT’S SIZZLING TIME. It’s always great to see small barns do well on a major stage., this gelding’s win being a prime example.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: KENNY HAD A NOTION. Stalked the pace and took control to win a first-level contest on Friday, inching his career earnings to close to $400,000.

SECOND STAR: TWO BIT KID. Picked up his third win in his last five starts on Fay, upsetting O’Conner Sunset in a second-level contest.

THIRD STAR: LITTLE BIT OF THAT. Won for the fifth time in her last seven starts a Friday, going gate-to-wire in a starter allowance dash as the 3-10 chalk.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR; RON DON SCORESE. Wore down early leader Margin of Air and prevailed in Monday’s first-level feature.

SECOND STAR: DEXTER HADDOCK. Turned in a riding hat trick on Wednesday, with three winners from five mounts.

THIRD STAR: CLAUDIO GONZALEZ. Had the best week of any Parx trainer, with two winners on Monday and another one on Wednesday.