Region’s Best

FIRST STAR: POST TIME. The lovable Maryland-bred superstar Post Time made his 2025 debut on Saturday in a third-level, 1 1/16-mile dirt race at Laurel Park. In his first start since finishing third in the Cigar Mile at Aqueduct in December, bettors sent him away as the 2-5 favorite in the nine-horse field. He made that price look like a bargain. Equipped with blinkers for the first time, he rated off the pace early on, then was asked to go on the far turn by Sheldon Russell. The response was immediate and explosive. He ran away from his overwhelmed rivals in the stretch and won by a career-best 13 1/4 lengths. He covered the distance over a fast track in 1:43.31, and improved to 8-for-8 lifetime at Laurel and 10-for-16 overall. He may run next in the June 7 Met Mile at Saratoga, where he would square off with fellow Maryland-bred Mindframe, who won the Churchill Downs Stakes less than an hour later. Post Time was bred by Tom and Chris Bowman, their son Brooke, and Milton Higgins III. He’s owned by Ellen Charles’s Hillwood Stable LLC and trained by Brittany Russell.

SECOND STAR: BUTCH REID. Mid-Atlantic training veteran Butch Reid achieved a major career milestone on Monday at Parx, when he won his 1,000th race. He saddled Jeanne Marie, a homebred for longtime clients LC Racing and Cash is King Racing LLC, in her first start of the year, a Pennsylvania-bred allowance at 6 1/2 furlongs. Jeanne Marie rated off the early pace under Eliseo Ruiz, wore down early leader Aegean Sea, and fended off the late challenge of favored Pure Lure to win by 1 1/4 lengths. Reid began his training career in 1985, and has amassed over $41 million in purse earnings.

THIRD STAR: WILD VINE. Saturday’s feature at Parx was an open allowance race at a mile and 70 yards. Wild Vine was scratched out of the race against Post Time to compete here, and it proved to be a shrewd strategy, as he rallied from last yo win by 2 3/4 lengths. He made a four-wide move on the turn and kicked away to win easily under Silvestre Gonzalez, covering the distance on a fast track in 1:42.47. He improved to 3-for-5 on the season, with his previous two wins coming at Laurel. Jamie Ness trains and co-owns with Super C Racing Inc.

Laurel Park

FIRST STAR: POST TIME. Got a perfect prep race for next month’s Met Mile and added to his Laurel legacy.

SECOND STAR: DATAMAN. Split horses late to win a third-level grass route later on the Saturday program in his 2025 debut.

THIRD STAR: MALIBU BEAUTY. Led all the way in a third-level route on Sunday to make her seasonal bow a winning one.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: HAMMER. Captured a second-level sprint on Thursday in gate-to-wire style to improve to 3-for-3 at Charles Town this year.

SECOND STAR: GRAN ANDREWS. His Charles Town winning streak was snapped two races ago, but he bounced back on Friday to win a starter optional claiming route as the 2-5 favorite.

THIRD STAR: ESPRESSO. Last year’s Confucius Say Stakes winner made his 2025 debut on Friday in an allowance sprint, and got up to win in a headbob photo finish at 23-1.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR: BUTCH REID. A local legend achieved a major milestone on Monday.

SECOND STAR: WILD VINE. Brought his game to another track and found himself back in the winner’s circle.

THIRD STAR: SUPREME LAW. Sat off the pace and kicked on go beat a first-level field on Saturday, for his third win in his last five starts.