Region’s Best

FIRST STAR: DEAN MARTINI. A rainy week in Maryland knocked three grass stakes races scheduled at Laurel Park on Saturday, including the Japan Turf Cup, to the main track. 2020 Ohio Derby champ Dean Martini relished the surface switch, establishing a clear early lead and kicking away to a dominant 6 1/2-length win under Jevian Toledo. He covered 1 1/4 miles on a good main track in 2:04.94 to boost his career record to 5-7-6 in 37 starts with earnings of $636,930. He’s owned by Facid Bernsen LLC and trained by Peter Eurton.

SECOND STAR: PASCALINE. This Arnaud Delacour-trained colt capped off Saturday’s stakes action with a two-length win in the Laurel Futurity. Sent off as the 4-1 fourth choice in the nine-horse field, he worked a great trip just off the pace under Victor Carrasco, then moved to the front and kicked on late. He covered a mile in 1:38.87 to improve to 2-for-2 lifetime with earnings of $126,000. Bred in West Virginia by James Miller, he’s owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Jimmy Kahig Racing, CJ Stables, and Edwin Barker, and trained by Arnaud Delacour.

THIRD STAR: PURE MAJESTIC. Earlier on the Saturday card, 2-year-old fillies did battle in the washed-off Selima Stakes. Pure Majestic, off a maiden victory at Colonial Downs, found her way to the winner’s circle once again. She broke on top, set the pace in the early stages of the one-mile contest while getting pressed by My Charm, then shook off that rival and won by 1 1/4 lengths. She improved to 2-2-2 lifetime in seven starts, with earnings of $159,750, and covered the distance in 1:40.50. Toledo was aboard for owners No Guts No Glory Farm and trainer Jerry Robb.

Laurel Park

FIRST STAR: DEAN MARTINI. Four years after his first stakes win, he grabbed his second on Saturday.

SECOND STAR: PASCALINE. If nothing else, he’s probably already clinched the title of champion West Virginia-bred 2-year-old male.

THIRD STAR: PURE MAJESTIC. The Robbs spent $100,000 on this gal at auction last year; it looks like money well-spent.

Delaware Park

FIRST STAR: TWO BY TWO. Got up to win a first-level route on Friday, for his fourth victory in his last five starts.

SECOND STAR: ATOMIC TONE. Sat the trip and drew away to win a first-level sprint on Wednesday.

THIRD STAR: HIGHLAND GHOST. Recent west coast import got pressed on the pace and drew off to defeat starter allowance rivals on Thursday.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: ROBBIELIKESHIM. Showed no signs of rust off a six-month layoff on Friday, sitting the trip and kicking on to win a West Virginia-bred allowance sprint.

SECOND STAR: MIC’D UP. Led every step in a West Virginia-bred allowance dash earlier on the Friday program, improving to 2-for-4 lifetime.

THIRD STAR: DIVINE FASHION. Lasr year’s national win leader picked up her fifth of this season against starter allowance rivals on Friday.

Meadowlands

FIRST STAR: SAMUEL MARIN. Won five of the 12 races on the weekend: three on Friday, two on Saturday.

SECOND STAR: LIVE HIGH LIVE LOW. One of his wins came on this 3-year-old colt, who kicked away to beat first-level rivals on Saturday for his fourth win of the year.

THIRD STAR: BINGO’S ESPRESSO. Beat fellow Jersey-bred dames going five panels on Friday with Marin aboard, in her first start against winners.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR: JUST CALL RAY. Rated off the pace, opened up a long late lead, and had just enough left late to hold on and win a second-level route on Monday.

SECOND STAR: BARTLETT. Pennsylvania-bred 3-year-old beat first-level foes by almost 11 lengths on Wednesday; wouldn’t be surprised to see him at least do damage in state-bred stakes.

THIRD STAR: KOHLER’S. Improved to 4-for-4 on the year on Monday with a sharp six-length Pennsylvania-bred allowance win.