Region’s Best

FIRST STAR: FAR MO POWER. Parx hosted a pair of stakes races for Pennsylvania-breds last Monday. The Page McKenney Handicap, for older horses going seven furlongs, went to Far Mo Power. Making his first start since last July, Far Mo Power rallied from 13 lengths off the early pace and gobbled up ground in the center of the track to win by 1 1/4 lengths, going seven furlongs in 1:25.83. The victory improved Far Mo Power’s career mark to 8-3-4 from 17 starts, with earnings of $450,168. Dexter Haddock had the mount on the 6-year-old Peter Giangiulio-bred gelding, for owner Joseph Sutton and trainer Louis Linder.

SECOND STAR: MORNING MATCHA. One race prior, Morning Matcha made her 2024 debut in the Unique Bella Stakes, for Pennsylvania-bred fillies and mares going seven furlongs. Sent off as the 3-5 favorite in the nine-horse field, she came from nine lengths off the pace and struck the front at the eighth pole, drawing clear in the lane to win by 2 1/4 lengths. The Crane Thoroughbred Services LLC-bred filly ran the distance in 1:26.33 to improve her record to 7-7-7 from 25 starts. She’s inching close towards becoming the latest Pennsylvania-bred millionaire, with career earnings of $954,940. She’s owned by LC Racing, Cash is King LLC, and Gary Barber, trained by Butch Reid, and ridden by Mychel Sanchez.

THIRD STAR: OVERNIGHT POW WOW. West Virginia-bred 3-year-old fillies clashed at Charles Town Saturday in the Its Binn Too Long Stakes. Overnight Pow Wow, the full younger sister of Muad’dib and Late Night Pow Wow, got entangled in a three-way early duel with Jlodiamond and Miss Bee Bop. Undeterred, Overnight Pow Wow pressed on and pulled clear late to win by 1 3/4 lengths, going 4 1/2 furlongs in 52.25. It was the first stakes win for this Cyndy McKee homebred, whose career record now stands at 2-0-1 from three starts with earnings of $66,959. McKee also trains the filly; Reshawn Latchman had the winning mount.

Laurel Park

FIRST STAR: ROMINSKI. Set the early pace and held off the late challenge of Classier to take a third-level sprint Saturday, improving to 3-for-4 on the year.

SECOND STAR: THAT’S RIGHT. This graded stakes-winning sprinter picked up his first win of the year in a second-level grass sprint Sunday, as he seeks to get his career back on track.

THIRD STAR: HAINT BLUE. Wore down longtime leader Continentalcongres to take a second-level route for fillies and mares Friday, for her first victory of the year.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: OVERNIGHT POW WOW. Her siblings have placed a lot of pressure on her shoulders, but she’s living up to expectations so far.

SECOND STAR: GRAN ANDREWS. Beat starter allowance rivals earlier on the Saturday card, for his third win in his last four starts and seventh consecutive exacta finish.

THIRD STAR: UNISON. This Larry Curtis homebred gelding made his first start since last May a winning on Saturday over allowance foes; he’s now 5-for-8 lifetime.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR: FAR MO POWER. A nice comeback win could set up a big 6-year-old season.

SECOND STAR: MORNING MATCHA. Another stakes win would give her millionaire status.

THIRD STAR: BEACH DAZE. This Jersey-bred filly set herself up for the Monmouth Park season nicely Monday, drawing off late to beat second-level foes going away.