Region’s Best

FIRST STAR: POWER SQUEEZE. Monday’s feature at Delaware Park, rescheduled from Saturday due to hot weather, was the grade 3 Delaware Oaks at 1 1/16 miles. Power Squeeze, already a three-time stakes winner on the year, added a fourth to her resume with an exciting nose victory. She drafted well off the pace in the early stages, then made a move in the two-path in the stretch in tandem with favored Sidamara. The two reeled in longtime leader Ringy Dingy and raced to the wire together, with Power Squeeze ultimately getting the upper hand. She’s now a five-time winner in her nine-race career with earnings of $567,450. Javier Castellano was aboard for owner Lea Farms LLC and trainer Jorge Delgado.

SECOND STAR: DEAN DELIVERS. One race earlier on the Monday card, Dean Delivers delivered an impressive 2 1/2-length win in the Alapocas Run Stakes. He rated just off early leader Super Chow, then moved three-wide in the stretch and kicked away late. It marks hi second consecutive stakes win, following a victory in the Mr. Prospector Stakes at Monmouth Park in late May, and his fourth since the start of 2023. The Stonehedge LLC homebred is trained by Ned Allard and was ridden by Jaime Rodriguez.

THIRD STAR; INTEGRATION. Saturday’s Million Preview Stakes at Colonial Downs was scratched down to three horses, which suited Integration just fine. Last year’s Virginia Derby winner came from last and kicked on in the stretch to win by 6 1/2 lengths as the overwhelming 1-20 favorite, setting him up nicely for a bid in the August 10 Arlington Million on this track. It was his first victory of the year in four starts and his fourth in seven lifetime starts, while boosting his career earnings to $681,800. He’s owned by a conglomerate led by West Point Thoroughbreds, trained by Shug McGaughey, and ridden by Kendrick Carmouche.

Laurel Park

FIRST STAR: FOREVER SOUPER. He scratched out of the Million Preview in favor of Sunday’s Prince George’s County Stakes, and it proved to be the right decision, as he won by 4 3/4 lengths in a gate-to-wire performance.

SECOND STAR; JEIRON BARBOSA. Won five races on the Friday card, helping propel him into a tie for second place in the rider standings.

THIRD STAR: WHENIGETTOHEAVEN. Got up over Tidewater to win Sunday’s Ben’s Cat Stakes, for his first stakes victory and the first in the career of his trainer, Nolan Ramsey.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: LITTLE ROO ROO. Led every step in a competitive allowance dash against some fellow West Virginia-bred stars on Friday for his first victory of the season, improving to 9-for-18 lifetime.

SECOND STAR: OVERNIGHT POW WOW. Improved to 4-for-6 lifetime with a sharp allowance win on Saturday; along with stablemate Direct the Cat, she gives Cyndy McKee two homebred Charles Town Oaks contenders.

THIRD STAR: DIVINE FASHION. Last year’s national win leader earned her third victory of this season on Friday with a 2 1/4-lenght starter allowance victory.

Delaware Park

FIRST STAR: POWER SQUEEZE. She’s quietly built up an impressive list of accomplishments and added to it last Monday.

SECOND STAR: DEAN DELIVERS. Will he stick with Mid-Atlantic sprint competition or try bigger fish next out.

THIRD STAR: WHISKEY DECISION. Won Monday’s Christiana Stakes as the odds-on choice for her third consecutive victory and first career stakes score.

Colonial Downs

FIRST STAR: INTEGRATION. We know he loves this track, but the competition next out will be stiffer.

SECOND STAR; NADETTE. Shipped from California and rallied from last to win Saturday’s Beverly D. Preview Stakes by 4 3/4 lengths as the 1-2 chalk.

THIRD STAR: FULMINEO. Maryland-bred colt got up in the last few jumps to win Saturday’s Boston Stakes, for his second consecutive stakes victory.

Monmouth Park

FIRST STAR: SPALIDAY. Rallied from last in the three-path to win Saturday’s Boiling Springs Stakes.

SECOND STAR: APOLLO TEN. Fended off constant pace pressure to win the My Frenchman Stakes on Sunday.

THIRD STAR: EL TERRENO. Led every step to take the Blue Sparkler Stakes later on the Saturday card, both her and runner-up Shuangxi are alumna of last month’s Stormy Blues Stakes at Laurel Park.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR: TALK TO THE JUDGE. Maryland-bred filly made her 2024 debut a winning one on Monday, taking an open allowance in gate-to-wire fashion despite pace pressure.

SECOND STAR; PARADISE VALLEY. Made it three victories in a row on Monday with an exciting first-level sprint score, getting up in the last few jumps over longtime leader Talkin Pharoah.

THIRD STAR: BARTLETT. Crushed a Pennsylvania-bred first-level field on Monday by 8 3/4 lengths, making his 2024 debut a winning one.