Region’s Best

FIRST STARS: ERNESTO PADILLA-PRECIADO AND BRITTANY RUSSELL. A pair of Mid-Atlantic trainers turned hat tricks this past week. On Tuesday, Ernesto Padilla-Preciado won three races at Parx from his four starters. He began his day with a victory in race 2 with Prince of Chill, ridden by Jorge Vargas, followed by scores in race 3 with Amaterasu and race 5 with Harley’s Charly, both ridden by Abner Adorno. Brittany Russell had her big day at Laurel Park on Saturday. She sent out race 2 winner Bestfriend Rocket with Jevian Toledo aboard (and rounded out the exaxts with King’s Road), race 7 winner U Know When U Know, with Sheldon Russell in the saddle, and race 8 with Michelle, ridden by Carlos Lopez. Russell has a commanding lead in the Laurel fall meet standings, with 26 winners from 73 starters. Padilla-Preciado, meanwhile, is in second in the Parx standings with 66 winners from 285 runners.

SECOND STAR: BARTLETT. Tuesday’s feature at Parx was a second-level contest going one mile and 70 yards. Bartlett, sent off as the 1-5 choice in the eight-horse field, lasted through pace pressure and drew off late to win by 2 1/2 lengths. He’s now won three times in a row, running big speed figures each time as he continues to climb up the class ladder. He’s now 4-for-6 lifetime with earnings of $144,380, and may be seen in stakes company next. The Pennsylvania-bred Newell Thoroughbred Ltd. homebred is trained by John Servis and ridden by Frankie Pennington.

THIRD STAR: RED HAT HANNA. Up-and-coming Oncourtcommentator and stakes winner Call Another Play loomed as the favorites in Sunday’s feature at Laurel Park, a first-level race for fillies and mares at one mile. However, Red Hat Hanna and Alexander Crispin stole it on the front end. She broke well from the outside post position, took charge early, and didn’t look back, crossing the wire four lengths in front in 1:38.08. She’s now 2-for-3 lifetime, including a maiden-breaking win on debut, with earnings of $55,110. This Maryland-bred filly, bred by Sharon Banford, is owned by Sal Sinatra and trained by Cal Lynch.

Laurel Park

FIRST STAR: BRITTANY RUSSELL. Continued to tighten her grip on the trainer standings with a big day on Saturday.

SECOND STAR: RED HOT HANNA. Could be a Maryland-bred to watch in stakes action this winter.

THIRD STAR: APROPOS. Stormed late to win a first-level grass dash on Friday.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: OZONE. Came from just off the pace to win an open first-level event on Saturday in a 29-1 upset.

SECOND STAR: SARAH’S CANDY CAMP. Beat allowance rivals on Thursday in a blanket finish for her second consecutive victory.

THIRD STAR: LONA LEE. Sat the trip and drew off to beat West Virginia-bred allowance rivals on Thursday.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR: ERNESTO PADILLA-PRECIADO. Continued a strong season with a big day Tuesday.

SECOND STAR: BARTLETT. Further established himself as a Pennsylvania-bred to watch with another victory.

THIRD STAR: THE KING CHEEK. Set the early pace, dug in, and held on to win a first-level route on Monday, for his second consecutive victory.