Region’s Best

FIRST STAR: POST TIME. Post Time returned to his home state, and the winner’s circle, on Saturday, with a dominant 11 1/2-length win in the Polynesian Stakes at Laurel Park. Off a pair of grade 1 placings in the Met Mile and the Whitney Stakes, the gray Maryland-bred was dismissed as the 1-20 favorite in the five-horse field. He drafted towards the back of the pack early on, while stablemate Frightland acted as a rabbit of sorts, then moved ro the front around the far turn. He was in front by five with a furlong to go, and never looked back from there. He’s now 8-for-8 in his career in Maryland, and has earned just shy of $1 million lifetime. He ran a mile on a fast track in 1:36.98 for owner Hillwood Stable LLC, trainer Brittany Russell, and jockey Sheldon Russell.

SECOND STAR: NO SHOW SAMMY JO. The Saturday stakes action at Laurel kicked off with the All Along Stakes for older females on grass. No Show Sammy Jo, sent off as the 1-2 favorite in her stakes debut, lived up to expectations. She enjoyed a great trip under Jorge Ruiz, drafting in third along the rail early on. As they turned for home, Ruiz angled her off the inside, and she kicked on while keeping second choice Atomic Blonde at bay. She hit the wire in front by 1 1/4 lengths to improve to 3-for-3 on the year. She ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.54 for owners Bridlewood Farm and Madaket Stables LLC and trainer Graham Motion.

THIRD STAR: LOON CRY. One race later, Laurel played host to the Sensible Lady Turf Dash going six furlongs on the lawn. Loon Cry, a winner of the Sweet Briar Too Stakes at Woodbine last out, made it two stakes wins in a row with a one-length victory. She received a well-timed ride from Mychel Sanchez, rallying from ninth to swoop the field and get there in time, going the distance in 1:08.44. Christophe Clement trains the Waterville Lake Stable homebred filly.

Laurel Park

FIRST STAR: POST TIME. Will he stay east or go west for his next start?

SECOND STAR: NO SHOW SAMMY JO. The All Along may be the first of many stakes wins for this promising filly.

THIRD STAR: LOON CRY. Nothing like a really good, exciting closer.

Delaware Park

FIRST STAR: FOLE’S NOTION. Rallied from last to win Saturday’s DTHA Governor’s Day Race in a 30-1 upset, setting himself up for a possible Maryland Million Classic bid.

SECOND STAR: PRINCESS JAVONCIA. Surged in the center of the track to win Saturday’s George Rosenberger Memorial.

THIRD STAR: JAMIE RODRIGUEZ. Captured four races on the Saturday Governor’s Day program.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: ARNALDO BOCACHICA. Went a perfect 4-for-4 with his Saturday mounts.

SECOND STAR: ALVY. Overcame a wide trip to beat first-level foes going away on Saturday under Bocachica.

THIRD STAR: HEY BOOTS. Broke on top and held on for every step in a starter allowance dash on Thursday.

Monmouth Park

FIRST STAR: SMITHWICK’S SPICE. Led all the way to take Sunday’s Joey P. Handicap by almost five lengths.

SECOND STAR: BEL PENSIERO. Sat the trip and converted to win the Pinot Grigio Handicap earlier on the Sunday program.

THIRD STAR: SAMUEL MARIN. Capped off his Monmouth season with back-to-back riding hat tricks.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR: MAJESTIC CREED. Won a second-level route on Tuesday by almost nine lengths in gate-to-wire style.

SECOND STAR: FLAMINGO WAY. Lasted through pace pressure to beat Pennsylvania-bred allowance foes earlier on the Tuesday program; Bobbi Anne Hawthorne trained both of the first two stars (the former was claimed by Jamie Ness).

THIRD STAR: SUNDRIA. Got up to beat starter optional claiming rivals on Wednesday in a 26-1 upset.