Region’s Best

FIRST STAR: TUSCAN SKY. The importance of saving ground was crystallized in Saturday’s Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park, the final local prep before the July 20 Haskell Stakes. Tuscan Sky, who went off as the 2-1 third choice in the six-horse field, raced on the pace towards the rail, while four of his rivals were stacked to his direct outside. Their wide trips eventually did them in, but Tuscan Sky had more to give, and he hit the wire 6 3/4 lengths in front, going 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.31. The victory improved his record to 3-0-0 in four starts, with earnings of $190,500. He’s owned by Spendthrift Farm LLC, trained by Todd Pletcher, and ridden by Javier Castellano.

SECOND STAR: BRIGHT FUTURE. Two races later, Pletcher and Castellano teamed up for another stakes victory, in this case, with Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable-owned Bright Future in the Salvator Mile. Sent off as the 11-10 choice in his first start of the season, he raced off the pace on the rail, but did not kick on when initially asked for run. Pennsylvania-bred Movisitor and West Virginia-bred Coastal Mission pulled well-clear of the others entering the stretch, but Bright Future found his best stride late and gobbled up ground up the inside. He won by 1 3/4 lengths going away, covering the mile in 1:36.96.

THIRD STARS: FORT WASHINGTON AND RUNNING BEE. In between those two stakes, older grass males did battle over Monmouth’s grass course in the Monmouth Stakes. The race featured a thrilling blanket finish, with all nine runners finishing within 3 1/4 lengths of each other. Fort Washington, a 35-1 longshot, surged late, with 9-2 third choice Running Bee making a concurrent move to his direct inside. The two of them hit the wire together, and after a long photo finish, the two were unable to be separated. This is Fort Washington’s second stakes win, following a win in the 2022 Tale of the Cat Stakes. He’s owned by Magic Cap Stables, trained by Shug McGaughey, and ridden by Kendrick Carmouche. This, meanwhile, was Running Bee’s first stakes victory, and fifth win overall, for owner Calumet Farm, trainer Chad Brown, and rider Vincent Cheminaud.

Laurel Park

FIRST STAR: TOUPIE. Sat the trip and rumbled down the center of the track to win Sunday’s Stormy Blues Stakes, for her second career stakes victory.

SECOND STAR: ROMINSKI. Picked up his fifth win of the year Sunday with a sharp open allowance victory.

THIRD STAR: SHAFT’S BULLET. Drew off impressively in the stretch to win a salty third-level contest Friday, for his third win of the year in five starts.

Delaware Park

FIRST STAR: EDERIK ROBLES. Turned a riding grand slam Thursday, including wins in the first three races on the card, as he continues a strong apprentice season, with 18 wins at the current meet.

SECOND STAR: UNDERSTUDY KITTY. Made her second start of the year a winning one Thursday, tipping out in the stretch and drawing off to win a first-level contest.

THIRD STAR: KADRI. Lasted through a duel and drew off to win a first-level grass sprint Wednesday, passing the half-million mark in earnings in the process.

Monmouth Park

FIRST STAR: TUSCAN SKY. We’ll see how he does in the Haskell with (in all likelihood) a more honest race flow.

SECOND STAR: BRIGHT FUTURE. Might have a bright future indeed, with Saratoga stakes on his agenda.

THIRD STARS: FORT WASHINGTON AND RUNNING BEE. Gave us a thriller in the Monmouth Stakes and set themselves up for a clash in the United Nations Stakes.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR: SPIKEZONE. Drew off after setting the pace and crushed an open allowance field Wednesday, for his fifth victory of the season.

SECOND STAR: COUNTERSPY. Came back to Parx and made his way back to the winner’s circle with an open allowance win going a mile Monday, for his fifth straight victory on the Bensalem oval.

THIRD STAR: JAMIE DREAMS. Set the pace and drew away to win a second-level grass route by six lengths Wednesday.