Mid-Atlantic Three Stars: April 7 * The Racing Biz

MID-ATLANTIC THREE STARS: APRIL 7

John Piassek
April 7, 2025

Plenty of racing action took place throughout the Mid-Atlantic this past week.

Here’s a look at the “three stars” of each track:

Region’s Best

Wild Vine captured Friday’s feature at Laurel Park. Photo by Jim McCue.

FIRST STAR: WILD VINE. Friday’s featured event at Laurel Park was a third-level allowance optional claiming contest at one mile. Wild Vine pulled an upset against similar competition earlier in the meet, and got the job done once again. He rated in fifth place in the early stages, as Parx shipper Windsor Gold and odds-on favorite Hittheroadjak battled for command. He made a four-wide move towards the lead on the turn, and under urging from Jaime Rodriguez, took control in the last eighth and drew off to win by two lengths at 7-1. He covered the distance over a fast track in 1.38.34, for owners Super C Racing Inc and trainer Jamie Ness’s Jagger Inc. Jaime Rodriguez had the winning mount.

SECOND STAR: JAIME RODRIGUEZ. Rodriguez kept up his momentum on Sunday, as he won half the races on Laurel Park’s eight-race program. After finishing second with his first mount of the day, he bounced back in race 3, riding Quit Quay to the winner’s circle for trainer Rudy Sanchez-Salomon. He scored again in the 5th race, as he guided Jamie Ness trainee Arrow Speed to victory from off the pace. In race 6, Rodriguez completed the hat trick, as Divine Armor won to complete a training double for Ness. Rodriguez got the grand slam in the 7th race, as Heard On TheStreet hot the job done for trainer Mike Geralis. Rodriguez, the leading jockey at Laurel’s winter meet, has the early lead in the spring standings, with five victories to his credit.

THIRD STAR: POINT DUME. Second-level allowance optional claiming rivals traveled one mile in the Tuesday feature at Parx. Point Dum took them all the way around, winning by a half-length in gate-to-wire fashion. He opened up a long early lead until Mychel Sanchez, taking charge by 2 1/2 lengths by the time he hit the opening quarter pole, and clicked off an opening quarter in 23.41 and a first half in 46.75. Bernie’s Mitts, who rated off the leader, drew alongside him on the turn, but he could not get by Point Dume, who held off another challenge from rail-skimming Deposition for the win. He covered the distance on a fast track in 1.37.75, boosting his career record to 5-for-18 lifetime. He’s owned by DEA Thoroughbred Racing Inc and trained by Jamie Ness.

Laurel Park

Maryland to spike Racetrack Operating Authority
Maryland budget negotiators on Friday unexpectedly decided to sunset the state’s Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority.

FIRST STAR: WILD VINE. Picked up another win against these types on Friday at another good price, for his second trainer of the year.

SECOND STAR: JAIME RODRIGUEZ. Began his quest for another Laurel Park riding title with a big Sunday.

THIRD STAR: YEDSIT HAZLEWOOD. Earned his fist career riding victory on Friday, and added three more on the weekend for good measure.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: GABRIEL’S WING. Snapped Gran Andrews’s Charles Town winning streak on Friday, taking a seven-furlong starter optional claiming field gate-to-wire in a 20-1 upset.

SECOND STAR: BUCKIN’ DREAMER. Improved to 3-for-3 lifetime at CHarles Town with a gate-to-wire win in a first-level route earlier on the Friday program.

THIRD STAR: POWERED BY LOVE. Won a West Virginia-bred allowance sprint by six lengths on Thursday, clearing to the front from post position nine to lead all the way.