Mid-Atlantic Three Stars: December 8

Horses leave the gate at Charles Town in this archive photo. 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

FIRST STAR: HYPOTHESIS. Off stakes wins in each of his last two starts, Hypothesis was the 2-1 second choice in a n/w2x allowance optional claiming race on Thursday. He chased down early leader Golden Key and got up to win by 3/4 of a length, going 4 1/2 furlongs in 51.90 seconds. He’s now won five times in the year, with three of those victories coming in West Virginia-bred stakes company. Jose Montano had the winning mount for owner Jill Daniel and trainer Crystal Pickett.
SECOND STAR: GRACE ELIZABETH. After an up-and-down campaign, Grace Elizabeth bounced back on Wednesday, with a win in a West Virginia-bred allowance optional claiming race for fillies and mares. She rated three-wide off the pace, then made a move on the final turn. She had to work to get by Coach Rube, who led entering the stretch, but she got up in the stretch and won by 3/4 of a length in 1:20.86 for 6 1/2 furlongs. She’s owned by Tri-State Stable, trained by Jeff Runco, and ridden by Arnaldo Bocachica.
THIRD STAR: COMMAND THE CAT. A competitive starter allowance field lined up on Friday. Breaking from the outside post, Command the Cat raced wide throughout and took control in the stretch. He drew off to win by 2 1/2 lengths for his fourth start of the year. He’s hit the board eleven times from fifteen starts this year. He’s owned by John McKee and ridden by Reshawn Latchman.

FIRST STAR: RUBEN SILVERA. Silvera won five races on last Monday’s card. He won three times for trainer Jamie Ness, teaming up in race 2 with Dilly Dilly Philly, race 3 aboard Shirley Greene, and the 9th race aboard D’Rapper. He also won race 4 on Dustwhirl Wonder, trained by Michael Pino, and race 7 with Cureio, for trainer Steve Klesaris. Silvera has won 211 races total this year as of Tuesday morning, by far the most of any campaign.
SECOND STAR: NEW COMMISSION. Last Monday’s feature was a n/w2x allowance optional claiming race at seven furlongs. Georgia-bred New Commission drew off to win by 3 1/2 lengths, in his first win of the year from four tries. He made a four-wide move in the stretch and drew away to win handily. He’s owned by Curacao Stable, trained by Ralph Riviezzo, and ridden by Jeremy Laprida.
THIRD STAR: WISE JUDE. This Pennsylvania-bred 6-year-old won for the first time this year last Tuesday, taking a state-bred allowance race in a 28-1 upset. He rallied from last and made up good ground in the stretch to win by 3/4 of a length. He’s owned by A & J Racing Stable LLC, trained by David Dotolo, and ridden by Angel Castillo.