Region’s Best

FIRST STAR: FILLE D’ESPRIT. After a disappointing end to her 2022 season last out, Fille d’Esprit started 2023 on a promising note when she won the What a Summer Stakes at Laurel Park handily. The Maryland-bred daughter of Great Notion went off as the 2-1 second choice in the five-horse field, while three-time stakes winner Swayin to and Fro was the 4-5 favorite. Fille d’Esprit made a strong four-wide move on the turn and drew off in the stretch, leaving Swayin to and Fro and the others in her wake. She hit the wire 5 1/4 lengths in front, going six furlongs in 1:11.70. She’s now won 14 times from 25 starts, including six stakes races, five of which came last year. She’s owned by C J I Phoenix Group and No Guts No Glory Farm, trained by Jerry Robb, and ridden by Xavier Perez.

SECOND STAR: BEVERLY PARK. Following a remarkable 15-win season last year, Beverly Park wasted no time getting on the board in 2023. He made his season debut at Charles Town on Thursday, and won a starter allowance contest by four lengths. Breaking from the outside post position eight in the 6 1/2-furlong contest, he rated near the pace early, then moved four-wide on the final turn and drew off from there. J.D. Acosta had the mount for trainer Lynn Cash and his Built Wright Stable LLC.

THIRD STAR: FACTOR IT IN. One race prior to Fille d’Esprit’s win, Factor It In made it three stakes victories in his last five starts when he took the Fire Plug Stakes. He rated off the early pace, then moved to the front in the five-path on the turn and held his rivals at by from there. The now 7-year-old gelding has found his best stride late in his career, with recent wins in the Dave’s Friend Stakes in the Challedon Stakes, as well as near-misses in the Bold Ruler Stakes and the Fall Highweight Handicap at Aqueduct. He’s owned by Michael Scheffres, trained by Carlos Mancilla, and ridden by Angel Cruz.

Laurel Park

FIRST STAR: FILLE D’ESPRIT. The queen of Maryland-breds keeps it going.

SECOND STAR: FACTOR IT IN. Another stakes win for this hard-knocking gray gelding.

THIRD STAR: PLOT THE DOTS. Recent Cash claim got his first stakes win in the Jennings Stakes Saturday and became the first Maryland-bred stakes winner of the year.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: BEVERLY PARK. Another win for the winning machine.

SECOND STAR: ANTHONY FARRIOR. The track’s leading trainer won multiple races in three of four race nights, including a hat trick on Saturday.

THIRD STAR: COASTAL MISSION. Three-time stakes-placed West Virginia-bred picked up his third win in his last four starts on Friday.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR: MARKET MAVEN. Dominated a second-level allowance field last Tuesday for his second straight triumph.

SECOND STAR: DEXTER HADDOCK. Turned a riding hat trick last Tuesday.

THIRD STAR: EMPRESS DEONA. Pennsylvania-bred filly started her 2023 season with a first-level allowance optional claiming win on Tuesday.