Mid-Atlantic Three Stars: October 3 *The Racing Biz

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laurel park

FIRST STAR: DAMON DILODOVICO. Dilodovico got off to a flying start to a splashy opening weekend at Laurel. He had a perfect 5-on-5 with his starters, including a three-game winning streak on Sunday. Dilodovico was one of four trainers to win multiple races on the opening weekend; Hammy Smith, Carlos Mancilla and Thomas McMahon were the others. He won 34 races this year and tied for fifth in the standings at the Laurel Summer Meet with 11 winners.

SECOND STAR: BATTLE BLING. Saturday’s Twixt Stakes were paper-rated stakes, but attracted a quality group of limit stakes. Four of the five runners had won a stakes race this year, including Battle Bling. The Rob Atras trainee won the Ladies Stakes at Aqueduct in January, but since then has racked up a string of rankings in the stakes company. She scored another putting victory here, with a 1 1./4 length victory over the preferred trainer. This rival, who left as a favorite, set the tone on the rail as Battle Bling pressed her into the dual path. As they reached the half mile, Battle Bling took control and never let it go. Angel Cruz had the winning mount for owners Michael Dubb and Gandharvi Racing Stables.

THIRD STAR: TAKE THIS INTO ACCOUNT. Two races earlier on Saturday, owner Michael Scheffres scored his first win, when Factor It In won the Challedon Stakes by 2 3/4 lengths. Under Jorge Ruiz, the 6-year-old Gray slowed the pace inside, then split the horses at the entrance to the stretch. He overhauled early leader Backnthewoods in the final eighth and retired from there. He ran seven furlongs in 1:24.16 for coach Carlos Mancilla.

SECOND STAR: SHACKQUEENKING. Since returning from a layoff in mid-August, Shackqueenking has been in great shape. He won his third straight race on Saturday, winning the DTHA Governors Day Handicap by 1 3/4 lengths. After noting the pace at the start, he moved three ways towards the leaders down the straight. As they rounded the final corner, he opened up a clear lead and maintained his advantage. He was most successful at Delaware, with five of his seven wins at the New Castle oval. Angel Suarez had the mount for Pocket 3’s Racing LLC owner and trainer Gary Capuano.

THIRD STAR: WHERE TO GO NOW. The 7-year-old gelding took a big step towards becoming the latest Maryland-bred millionaire on Friday when he won the New Castle Stakes by a head. He battled with early leader Indian Lake on the home stretch, but ultimately earned his second straight win in that race. The win boosted his career earnings to $955,295, putting him just short of millionaire status. He has now won four races and three stakes races this year, for owners Madaket Stables LLC, Ten Strike Racing, Michael Kisber and BTR Racing Inc, trainer Brittany Russell and jockey Jevian Toledo.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: STRONG FIBER. On Saturday, this 3-year-old son of Fiber Sonde won his second straight race by winning a West Virginia allowance race by half a length. He became the 5-2 second choice behind 4-5 favorite Drinkwiththestars, who set the tone early in the 4 1/2 yard affair. Strong Fiber pressed the leader all the way and pointed their heads ahead as they entered the stretch. The two continued to battle, but Strong Fiber took the advantage late. Since making his debut as a 3-year-old in late August, he has quickly reached the best form of his career, with Lifetime Equibase numbers in his last two starts. He is a homebred for owner/trainer John McKee, while Marshall Mendez had the mount.

SECOND STAR: CLOWN COMPANY. This 5-year-old has been back to his best form lately. He won for the fourth time in his last five races on Thursday, when he won an optional starting claiming race by half a length. He broke off the inside post in the 4 1/2 stadia dash and moved three wide into the corner past the leaders. He overhauled early leader Ruling late and crossed the line ahead in 52.18. Fredy Peltroche had the mount for owner Michael Miller and trainer David Walters.

THIRD STAR: ALL CAPS. Walters and Peltroche also teamed on this West Virginia-bred 3-year-old filly to victory Thursday, as she sailed to win a West Virginia allowance race by 5 1/4 lengths. Sent off as a 1-5 favourite, she dueled Crafty Windsor Cat in the opening stages, but was knocked out of that rival and retired insistently, going 4 1/2 furlongs in 52.60 . She beat her young daughter by six lengths in her previous start and looks to have a bright future. She is a homebred for Fairview Farm.

SECOND STAR: JAIRO RENDON. Rendon scored a brace on Friday. He scored in Race 2 on Optic Way, for trainer Derek Ryan, and in Race 3 aboard Bird’s Eye View, trained by Michael Dini. Rendon became one of five riders to have multiple wins at the competition. Hector Diaz Jr retains the lead, with four wins.

THIRD STAR: BIRD’S VIEW. The aforementioned Bird’s Eye View, which has been circling the neighborhood for some time, closed out the $400,000 mark and won for the first time this year in its Friday run. He fired back early and closed hard on the outside to win by a header in a four-horse photo-finish. This 8-year-old gelding has raced 57 times in his career and won six times. It is owned by Ballybrit Stable, LLC.

SECOND STAR: HE IS INCREDIBLE. Earlier Wednesday, He’s Incredible won for the third time in their last four starts. As the tied favorite in a starting allocation race, he dueled JW’s Third Mischie at the start, then kicked to win by 1 1/2 lengths while running six furlongs in 1:10.85. The apprentice of Alfredo Velazquez only raced once between July 2020 and July 2022, but found his best form this year. Paco Lopez had the mount for owner Anita Velazquez.

THIRD STAR: AIRPLANE drunk. On Tuesday, Lopez brought home this Pennsylvania-bred filly to a strong severance win. As an 11-10 pick, she made a solid three-wide move at the turn and pulled away for a 4 1/2-length win, covering six furlongs in 1:10.81. She is owned by Madison Avenue Racing Stable Inc and Jagger Inc and is trained by Jamie Ness.

The best of the region

1. Mychel Sanchez – A milestone for one of the region’s top riders.
2. shackqueenking
3. Damon Dilodovico