Mid-Atlantic Three Stars: April 20

by John Piassek | Apr 20, 2021 | Breaking, Racing, Regionwide, Top Stories

Brigintine Island won the Original Gold Stakes at Charles Town on Saturday. Photo: Coady Photography.

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

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

LAUREL PARK

Racing at Laurel Park was cancelled this past week, due to issues concerning the cushion of the main track. Racing has been moved to Pimlico, starting this Thursday, April 22.

CHARLES TOWN RACES

FIRST STAR: BRIGINTINE ISLAND. On Saturday night, this mare picked up her first career stakes win, taking the Original Gold Stakes by seven lengths. In a wide-open betting race, she was sent off as the 3/1 third choice. Reshawn Latchman rated her in third place in the early stages of the seven-furlong contest. When the top two began to give way, Brigintine Island was right there to take advantage, pouncing and drawing off in the stretch. She covered seven furlongs in 1:26.55, improving her career mark to 6-for-22 lifetime and her career earnings to $163,479. Almost half of that money has been earned in 2021. She’s owned by Cynthia McKee and trained by John McKee.
SECOND STAR: TAKE ME HOME. Few horses anywhere in the country have been on a more impressive streak than Take Me Home. On Friday night, she notched her fifth win in a row, all of which have come at Charles Town. She took a n/w2x allowance optional claiming race by 2 3/4 lengths as the 1/5 favorite, covering 6 1/2 furlongs over a fast track in 1:20.11. With that win, she became the first horse anywhere in the country to win five races this year. She’s owned by Bush Racing Stable, trained by Anthony Farrior, and ridden by Arnaldo Bocachica.
THIRD STAR: HOT N SPICY LOVE. On Thursday night, this Maryland-bred gelding continued a winning streak of his own, winning a n/w1x allowance for his third consecutive win. With a strong three-wide move on the final turn, he drew off for a 2 1/4-length victory under Arnaldo Bocachica, covering seven furlongs in 1:25.68. The winner is owned by Robert Cole Jr and trained by Irving Velez.

PARX RACING

FIRST STAR: WAR TOCSIN. He prevailed in Wednesday’s feature, a n/w2x allowance optional claiming race at 6 1/2 furlongs, by 1 3/4 lengths. John Bisono gave him a ground-saving trip, rating off the pace on the inside, then moving him towards the lead while on the rail in the stretch. In the last sixteenth, he pulled clear to secure the win. That’s War Tocsin’s first win on the year, and his third lifetime victory. He’s owned by Trin-Brook Stables Inc and trained by Uriah St. Lewis.
SECOND STAR: RUBEN SILVERA. Silvera is no stranger to big weeks, and he had another big week last week. He won eight races last week, including four races on Wednesday. He won a pair for trainer Louis Linder Jr, taking race 3 with Twirling Dervish and race 5 aboard Did I Stutter. He also teamed up with Jamie Ness twice, winning the 7th race on Our Stormin Norman and race 8 with Ruby Bleu. Silvera had 57 wins entering the racing week, the most of anyone in the Parx riding colony.
THIRD STAR: CHRIS GRIFFIN. Griffin officially became the new announcer at Parx last week, announcing his first day of races last Monday. Griffin was previously the announcer at Sam Houston Race Park, and has previously had stints on the California fair circuit and Monmouth Park. You can find Chris on twitter @inthegrandstand.