Mid-Atlantic Three Stars: January 13 * The Racing Biz

MID-ATLANTIC THREE STARS: january 13

John Piassek
January 13, 2025

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 Charles Town. Photo by Coady Photography.

FIRST STAR: GRAN ANDREWS. Saturday’s Charles Town card featured a starter allowance contest at seven furlongs. In his 6-year-old debut, Gran Andres prevailed by 2 1/4 lengths, for his 10th consecutive win at Charles Town. Sent off as the 1-5 favorite in the eight-horse field, eh rushed to the front on the final turn, then pulled clear to victory despite racing on the wrong lead. He started his 2025 season on a winning note following a 9-for-13 campaign in 2024, boosting his career earnings to $250,184. He’s owned by Ultra Championship Racing LLC, trained by Anthony Farrior, and ridden by Arnaldo Bocachica.

SECOND STAR: SHARP TONES. Wednesday’s feature at Parx was a first-level route at a mile and 70 yards. Sharp Tones, sent off at 10-1 in a wide-open nine-horse field, drafted towards the back of the pack early on, but rallied strongly while wide in the stretch and got up to win by a nose in a blanket three-horse photo finish. He’s now won twice in his last three starts, and threes time sin his 15-race career, with earnings of $146,390. He’s a homebred for trainer Lynn Ashby and William Gotwals. Carol Cedeno had the winning mount.

THIRD STAR: HEY BOOTS. Later on the Saturday program at Charles Town, starter allowance rivals met in a 4 1/2-furlong dash. Hey Boots earned his fourth victory in his last five starts. Breaking from post position nine in the 10-horse field, he rated off the pace early on, then moved wide on the turn and kicked away to prevail by 2 1/2 lengths, going the distance in :52.07. This 4-year-old gelding is now 7-for-17 lifetime, with earnings of $118,248. Ronney Brown trains and co-owns with Nicole Brown. Christian Maldonado had the winning mount.

Great Notion colt takes top honors at MHBA Yearling Show
A Great Notion colt took the top spot and the Merryman family dominated at Sunday’s 91st annual Maryland Horse Breeders Association Yearling Show.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: GRAN ANDREWS. He’s been unbeatable at Charles Town for almost a year.

SECOND STAR: HEY BOOTS. He looks like an up-and-coming star in the Charles Town starter allowance ranks.

THIRD STAR: ARNALDO BOCACHICA. Charles Town’s leading rider reeled off three victories on the Friday program.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR: SHARP TONES. Gobbled up ground and prevailed in an exciting finish.

SECOND STAR: BIG BOYS ANSWER. Lasted through a pace battle to win a second-level Pennsylvania-bred sprint on Tuesday, for his third win in his last four starts.

THIRD STAR: CHRIS ELLIOTT. Turned in back-to-back two-win days on Tuesday and Wednesday.

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