Region’s Best

FIRST STAR: DORNOCH. Monmouth Park hosted their signature race, the grade 1 Haskell Stakes, on Saturday. Belmont Stakes winner Dornoch earned his fourth career stakes victory in an exciting stretch battle, once again fending off the late rally of Mindframe, who finished second to Dornoch in the Belmont as well, and crossing the wire 1 1/4 lengths in front. He covered 1 1/8 miles on a fast main track in 1:50.31 for an ownership group led by West Paces Racing LLC, trainer Danny Gargan, and jockey Luis Saez.

SECOND STAR: GET SMOKIN. One race prior, older grass males squared off in the second-biggest race of the Monmouth season, the grade 2 United Nations Stakes. Get Smokin, making his second start of the year, opened up a comfortable early advantage in the 1 3/8-mile contest, leading by as many as four lengths on the far turn while setting honest fractions. He held clear at the top of the stretch, but in the final eighth, Grand Sonata surged up the inside and gobbled up ground in the final yards. However, the wire came just in time for Get Smokin. He ran the distance in 2:12.57, with Fernando De La Cruz aboard for an ownership group led by BlackRidge Stable LLC. Mark Casse is the winning trainer.

THIRD STAR; IDIOMATIC. Last year’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff champion had to call on all her heart to win Saturday’s Molly Pitcher Stakes at Monmouth Park. Dismissed as the 1-10 favorite in the five-horse field, Idiomatic set the pace on the rail early, but looked to be in deep water on the turn when Soul of an Angel made her move and pout a half-length in front. However, Idiomatic refused to yield, and grudgingly fought on against Soul of an Angel from her inside. Idiomatic ultimately prevailed by a head. She’s now an eight-time stakes winner in her 15-race career, with earnings of $34,76,840. The Juddmonte homebred mare is trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Florent Geroux.

Laurel Park

FIRST STAR: SPARKLE BLUE. Lived up to odds-on expectation on Sunday by taking the Big Dreyfus Stakes for the second consecutive year.

SECOND STAR; JEIRON BARBOSA. Swept the late pick 4 on Saturday, winning the last four races on the card for four different trainers.

THIRD STAR: MISS HARRIETT. Earned her third career stakes victory by beating fellow Maryland-bred fillies in the Miss Disco Stakes on Sunday.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: JUBAWITHATWIST. Continued his domination of his fellow West Virginia-bred 3-year-olds on Saturday with a dominant win in the Leavitt Stakes; is he bound for the Robert Hilton Memorial Stakes?

SECOND STAR: TEACHINTHERELEASE. Led every step and won a West Virginia-bred allowance optional claiming contest on Friday as much the best.

THIRD STAR: MEGAN REAP. Went a perfect 3-for-3 with her Thursday mounts.

Delaware Park

FIRST STAR: GABRIEL MALDONADO. Hit the ground running on Saturday’s card, winning four of the first five races on the card.

SECOND STAR: GOT THUNDER. Rallied three-wide and drew off late to win at first-level sprint on Wednesday.

THIRD STAR: FUN NOTION.Wore down early leader King Kntoie to prevail in a first-level grass dash on Saturday.

Colonial Downs

FIRST STAR: DETERMINED KINGDOM. Won his third consecutive Punch Line Stakes on Saturday, obliging those bold enough to back him at 1-20.

SECOND STAR: PASSION PLAY. Kicked off his 2024 season in style on Saturday with a victory in the Edward P. Evans Stakes.

THIRD STAR: TUFANI. Rallid from of the pace to win the brookmeade stakes going away on saturday.

Monmouth Park

FIRST STAR: DORNOCH. picked up another stakes win while racing on the rail and established himself as the country’s top 3-year-old male.

SECOND STAR: GET SMOKIN. Used his early speed to full advantage and lasted just long enough in the united nations.

THIRD STAR: IDIOMATIC. Her class and determination got her through in an exciting Molly Pitcher win.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR: TALENTED MAN. Battled on the pace and drew away to win a third-level sprint on Monday, for his second consecutive victory.

SECOND STAR; WHAT DOES IT TAKE. Opened up a long early led and had just enough left late to win a second-level route on Wednesday.

THIRD STAR: SILVESTRE GONZALEZ. Rode three winners on Monday, a pair of them for trainer Ron Dandy.