Region’s Best

FIRST STAR: ZIP START. West Virginia-bred 2-year-old fillies took to the track in Saturday’s feature, the James and Eleanor Casey Memorial Stakes. Diakonissa, the winner of the Triple Crown Nutrition Breeders’ Classic in her last start, went off as the 11-10 favorite in the nine-horse field. She led in the early stages of the seven-furlong contest, but proved no match for Zip Start. Fourth behind Diakonissa last out, Zip Start made her move to the front in the two-path around the final turn and pulled clear to win by three lengths, with Diakonissa second. Zip Start improved to 2-0-1 in four lifetime starts, with earnings of $68,679, while covering the distance in 1:28.08. She was bred by Williams Racing Corp. and is owned by trainer Jeff Runco’s Coleswood Farm Inc. and David Raim. Angel Cruz had the winning mount.

SECOND STAR: WITTY. Local star Witty, in his first dirt appearance in 10 1/2 months, made his return to the surface a winning one at Laurel Park on Saturday. He called on all his class and came from well of the pace to win a third-level sprint by a half-length. Sent off as the slight 2-1 favorite, he raced wide most of the way, but charged hard down the center of the track and got up over Petingas Twin, who had a three-length head start on him at the top of the lane. He ran six panels in 1:09.46, improving to 9-10-0 in 27 career starts with earnings of $694,902. Lizzie Merryman bred and trains the gelding, and co-owns with Qatar Racing LLC and Marc Detampel.

THIRD STAR: VEESON. Parx’s Saturday feature was an open allowance sprint at six furlongs. Veeson, stakes-placed twice at Parx this year, got the job done by a head in an exciting thee-horse blanket finish. The 19-10 favorite rated in third place in the early stages, while Talented Man and Smooth B engaged in an early duel. He made his move up the rail at the top of the stretch, and got up in the final jump over One More Scoop, who rallied wide and got second, and Talented Man, who held on for third. Veeson ran the distance in 1:12.07, and is now 3-for-9 on the year and 6-for-21 lifetime. The Pennsylvania-bred Chuck Russo homebred is trained by Hugo Padilla and ridden by Frankie Pennington.

Laurel Park

FIRST STAR: WITTY. Proved he still has it on dirt as well as grass.

SECOND STAR: SWILL. Rallied to win a third-level grass sprint earlier on the Saturday card.

THIRD STAR: BRITTANY RUSSELL. Sent Post Time to a second-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, but enjoyed plenty of local success as well, with three wins on Thursday and six wins on the week.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: ZIP START. Rallied to post a mild upset for her first stakes victory.

SECOND STAR: DIRECT THE CAT. Rolled to victory against unrestricted West Virginia-bred allowance foes on Saturday * improving to 4-for-5 on the year and 8-for-11 lifetime.

THIRD STAR: HOPPING HENRY. Picked up a win against West Virginia-bred allowance rivals on Saturday, setting the pace and holding on to win at 17-1 for his fifth victory of the season.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR: VEESON. He’s found his best stride towards the end of the season, with three victories in his last five starts.

SECOND STAR: BOLT OF AURUM. Pressed the pace and drew off to win a first-level sprint by 8 1/2 lengths on Monday.

THIRD STAR: NATURE’S CANDY. Led every step and drew off to capture a first-level route on Wednesday by nearly six widening lengths.