Region’s Best

FIRST STAR: COPPER TAX. The local road to the Preakness continued at Laurel Park Saturday with the Private Terms Stakes. Copper Tax relished the drop in class after back-to-back defeats in graded stakes company to win by a neck. Sent off as the slight 2-1 favorite in the nine-horse field, he rated on the rail in midpack most of the way, then angled off the inside as they entered the stretch and took his shot at longtime leader Speedyness. He overhauled Speedyness and fellow pace-stalker Inveigled and got up in the last few strides, covering 1 1/16 miles over a sloppy track in 1:46.38. He’s now a three-time stakes winner, having previously taken the Rocky Run Stakes and the James Lewis Stakes last year, along with two Delaware-certified allowance races. He’s owned by Rose Petal Stable LLC, trained by Gary Capuano, and was ridden by J.G. Torrealba, for his first stakes win as a rider.

SECOND STAR: DETERMINED DRIVER. One race prior on the Saturday card, 3-year-old fillies took center stage in the Beyond the Wire Stakes. 11-10 favorite Determined Driver, second in the Wide Country Stakes in her prior start, lived up to expectations. She rated off early leaders Kissedbyanangel and Aoife’s Magic, then moved by on the far turn without much trouble and drew off to win by 12 1/2 lengths for her first career stakes win. This Maryland-bred filly, bred by 2500 Determined Stud, ran a mile in 1:39.68 in the sloppy conditions, and is now 3-for-5 lifetime with a pair of stakes placings. Forest Boyce was aboard on Saturday for owner D Hatman Thoroughbreds.

THIRD STAR: ADERO. Parx’s co-feature Monday was a third-level affair going one mile. Adero, second in his season debut on January 30, broke through with a one-length win. Sent off as the 2-1 second choice, trailing only 8-5 favorite Magic Michael, he went to the front from post position two, and was hounded early by longtime Dontmesawithme. He took a clear lead on the final turn, then held off the challenges of Irish Cork to secure the victory. He’s now 6-for-13 lifetime, with three runner-up finishes, and earnings of $232,470. He’s owned by Carguys Racing LLC, trained by John Servis, and ridden by Abner Adorno.

Laurel Park

FIRST STAR: COPPER TAX. Could have a nice season in smaller 3-year-old stakes.

SECOND STAR: DETERMINED DRIVER. Kept moving forward third off the layoff in the Beyond the Wire; interested to see what she does next.

THIRD STARS: JAIME RODRIGUEZ AND JAMIE NESS. Teamed up for a grand slam on Sunday’s card, with four winners on the card.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: O’CONNER SUNSET. Converted a great stalking trip to win the second-level feature Friday; he’s now 2-for-3 on the year and is a length away from an undefeated mark.

SECOND STAR: LIGHTNIN RUNNER. Went gate-to-wire to beat West Virginia-bred allowance foes Saturday to improve her record to 8-for-16 lifetime.

THIRD STAR: BAYTOWN FROSTY. Made a four-wide sweep on the turn to win a second-level dash Thursday, for his second win in a row.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR: ADERO. Has shown a high ceiling so far; we’ll see if he’ll get a chance to keep it up in stakes company.

SECOND STAR: UNCLE ERNIE. This Pennsylvania-bred Gilman Hallenbeck homebred picked up his first win of the year in a third-level sprint Monday, giving John Servis a sweep of Monday’s biggest races.

THIRD STAR: COUNTERSPY. Made it three wins in a row Wednesday with a sharp gate-to-wire win against second-level rivals as the 1-5 choice.