Mid-Atlantic Three Stars: March 27 * The Racing Biz

MID-ATLANTIC THREE STARS: March 27

John Piassek
March 27, 2023

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

Racing at Laurel Park without fans. Photo by Allison Janezic.

FIRST STAR: DULCIMER DAME. This 6-year-old mare has torn her way through Charles Town this year. On Thursday, she won for the sixth time this year, taking a first-level allowance race by 1 1/2 lengths as the 1-10 favorite. She’s the only North American horse who has won six races this year; no one on the mainland has even won five, and only three other horses in the 50 states have won four. She’s back in the box on Thursday in a bid for her seventh win of the season. Arnaldo Bocachica had the winning mount for owner Richard Burnsworth and trainer Anthony Farrior.

SECOND STAR: GUSTAVO LARROSA. Larrosa achieved a milestone on Saturday, when he piloted home his 1,000th career winner. He rode Master This to victory in a West Virginia-bred claiming race for trainer Mike Butts, getting to the four-digit mark after just over 48 hours of sitting on 999. Larrosa won on his first career mount at Charles Town in April 2003 and has since accumulated more than $19.4 million in purse earnings. At the current meet, Larrosa has ridden 10 winners from 69 mounts.

THIRD STAR: JAIME RODRIGUEZ. Rodriguez put the icing on the Laurel Park winter jockey race this weekend, with hat tricks on both Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, he won race 3 aboard Running River, trained by John Salzman Jr, race 7 with Rudy Sanchez-Solomon-trained Six the Hard Way, and the 8th race on Excellorator, trained by Jamie Ness. On Sunday, he prevailed in race 3 with St. Jude, trained by Ben Perkins, race 6 with Tim Salzman-trained Ladneedsahandler, and race 7 aboard Awesome View, trained by Michael Gorham. With one day left in the winter meet, Rodriguez has an 11-win lead on runner-up Jeiron Barbosa, which ensures Rodriguez of the riding title.

Laurel Park

Charles Town jockeys and trainers to watch
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FIRST STAR: JAIME RODRIGUEZ. An excellent month of March propelled him to the Laurel riding title.

SECOND STAR: EXCELLORATOR. One of Rodriguez’s winners was this 5-year-old Maryland-bred gelding, who took a third-level allowance optional claiming race on Saturday for his second win of the year.

THIRD STAR: MOODY WOMAN. Sat off the pace and rolled to win a third-level allowance optional claiming sprint on Friday, on the heels of a third-place finish in the Barbara Fritchie Stakes.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: DULCIMER DAME. Kept the winning streak going with another solid performance.

SECOND STAR: GUSTAVO LARROSA. Joined the 1,000-win club on Saturday on the heels of the 20th anniversary of his first win.

THIRD STAR: GREAT SPIRIT. Won a West Virginia-bred allowance race in impressive style on Saturday to improve to 3-for-3 lifetime.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR: JAMIE NESS. Turned a training hat trick on Wednesday as part of a seven-win week.

SECOND STAR: CANDY FOR CARMEL. One of Ness’s victors was Candy for Carmel, who battled and drew off to win a starter allowance race on Monday for his third straight victory.

THIRD STAR: DAYDREAMING BOY. Waited in traffic, then rolled when clear to win a first-level allowance contest for 3-year-olds on Wednesday.

“Something from Grandmother” helps Post Time win Carter
Family connections abounded as Post Time won the Carter, and owner Ellen Charles thinks her star may get a little bit extra from that.