Region’s Best

FIRST STAR: INTREPID DREAM. Three days after Intrepid Daydream was named Maryland-bred Horse of the Year, her full sister, Intrepid Dream, made her first start since November 2022 in a third-level contest at Laurel Park. Sent off as the 11-10 favorite in the six-horse field despite the long break, the massive 1,300-pound mare stalked early leader Doctor Abbie on the outside, then engulfed her at the top of the stretch and won by 4 1/4 lengths. She improved to 5-fot-6 lifetime with that win, with career earnings of just over $159,000. She’s a homebred for Larry Fowler Jr, trained by Gary Capuano and ridden by Jevian Toledo.

SECOND STAR: JOHNNY RITT. Tuesday’s feature at Parx was a second-level sprint at 6 1/2 furlongs. Johnny Ritt picked up his first win of the year in an 8-1 upset, rallying from eight lengths off the pace to get up by a head over longtime leader Masrour. Last year, he won four times in 13 starts, and finished in the exacta nine times. This win boosted his career record to 9-11-6 from 47 starts, with earnings of $430,295. This Pennsylvania-bred gelding, bred by Barbara Wheeler, was ridden by Eliseo Ruiz for owner The Hakim’s Stable LLC and trainer Carlos Caban.

THIRD STAR: GOLDEN CANDY. Take a Hint was sent off as the 2-5 favorite in Sunday’s Laurel feature, a second-level six-furlong sprint. However, he faded after setting the pace and ended up third. Golden Candy, the 9-2 second choice, got a nice trip rating off the leader and wore him down in the stretch to win by a neck. Going to the Lead also made a late bid, but Golden Candy had enough to hold him off for his 11th career win in 38 starts. Bred in Pennsylvania by A. Delaperrier Stable LLC, he’s owned by David Neilson, trained by Wallace Neilson, and ridden by Jeiron Barbosa.

Laurel Park

FIRST STAR: INTREPID DREAM. If she can stay on the track, she’ll have a big year.

SECOND STAR: GOLDEN CANDY. Passed the $500,000 career earnings mark on Sunday in a sharp victory.

THIRD STAR: RAUL MENA. Pulled off a riding hat trick on Saturday’s program.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: CURLIN’S MALIBU. Made a three-wide move to pull a 9-1 upset in Friday’s second-level feature.

SECOND STAR: JEFFERSON NATIVE. Last year’s Last Enchantment Stakes winner made his 2024 debut a winning one on Thursday, going gate-to-wire to win an allowance dash after getting pressed..

THIRD STAR: ELLE’SBIGSECRET. He picked up his fourth win of the year in a starter allowance contest on Saturday, becoming the third horse in the country to do so.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR; JOHNNY RITT. Timed his move just right and got up to secure his Tuesday victory.

SECOND STAR: CENTRE COURT CHAMP. Lived up to the 3-5 hype with an impressive second-level win over fellow fillies and mares on Wednesday.

THIRD STAR: MYCHEL SANCHEZ. Centre Court Champ was one of Sanchez’s three Wednesday winners.