Region’s Best

FIRST STAR: SUBSANADOR. Saturday’s feature at Monmouth Park was the Grade 3 Philip H. Iselin Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on dirt. California shipper Subsanador, who finished second in the Santa Anita Handicap earlier this year, came from just off the pace and made a three-wide brush to the lead on the turn. He opened up a clear advantage in the stretch and held on to win by 1 1/2 lengths. Although he’s a five-time stakes winner in his native Argentina, this was his first stateside stakes win in four attempts. He’s now an eight-time winner in his 16-race career with earnings of $403,124. He’s owned by Wathnan Racing, trained by Richard Mandella, and was ridden by Mike Smith, marking the first Iselin win for all parties.

SECOND STAR: SMITHWICK’S SPICE. One race later, grass sprinters did battle in the Select Stakes. Jersey-bred Smithciwkc’s Spice, coming off a win against Delaware-certified allowance foes, pulled off a 25-1 upset. He battled for the early lead with Xy Speed, wrestled control and pulled clear int he stretch, and held off the late surges of favorites Nothing Better and Senbei to prevail by a nose. He’s now a two-time stakes winner on the year, having previously wont he Leinster Turf Dash in February at Tampa Bay Downs. The New Spice Stable homebred gelding is trained by Doug Nunn and was ridden by Jorge Gonzalez.

THIRD STAR: MALIBU BEAUTY. Maryland-restricted fillies and mares clashed in the All Brandy Stakes at Laurel Park on Sunday. Malibu Beauty, who won the Caesar’s Wish Stakes on this track two Sundays ago, added another stakes win to her resume and pushed past the $700,000 mark in earnings with a three-quarter length victory. She took control after briefly rating off last year’s winner, Gold Digging Broad, then held off a late re-rally from that rival after pulling clear in the stretch. J.G. Torrealba was aboard for ZWP Stable and trainer Gary Capuano’s Non Stop Stable.

Laurel Park

FIRST STAR: MALIBU BEAUTY. Continued to build her stock for the Maryland Million Distaff with anothe rimpressive victory.

SECOND STAR: RICCIO. Won the Find Stakes for Maryland-restricted males on Sunday as much the best.

THIRD STAR: MISS NEW YORK. Rated off the pace and drew off to win a third-level route for fillies and mares on Saturday in an upset over odds-on choice Continentalcongres.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: CHRISTIAN HIRALDO. Won four races in five mounts on Saturday’s card.

SECOND STAR: RUNALDO. Drew off and won by almost sic lengths against West Virginia-bred allowance foes on Saturday.

THIRD STAR: UNISON. Led every step in an allowance dash on Saturday for his seventh win in his last nine starts.

Delaware Park

FIRST STAR: RE MARKABLY. Drew off to win Wednesday’s Dover Stakes for his first career stakes victory; eh was bred by trainer Lynn Ashby, who co-bred and co-owns with William Gotwals.

SECOND STAR: CAPRICE. Battled on the pace and pulled clear to victory in the Blue Hen Stakes earlier on the Wednesday program.

THIRD STAR: FRANCISCO MARTINEZ. Went a perfect 3-for-3 with his Saturday mounts.

Colonial Downs

FIRST STAR: FOR FLYING. Fought hard and got up to win a third-level route for fillies and mares on Saturday, improving to 2-for-2 since arriving from her native Brazil.

SECOND STAR: CAP’N DUSTY. Sat the trip and converted to beat Virginia-restricted allowance rivals on Friday.

THIRD STAR: BEN CURTIS. Rode three winners on the Friday program.

Monmouth Park

FIRST STAR: SUBSANADOR. This Argentinian import may be rounding into his best self.

SECOND STAR: SMITHWICK’S SPICE. Hard-knocking Jersey-bred veteran improved his career earnings ov$640,367 with his Select win.

THIRD STAR: GOT THUNDER. Got up n the last jump to win a third-level sprint on Sunday.