Region’s Best

FIRST STAR: JOURNALISM. The 150th Preakness Stakes, the final one before the impending rebuilding of Pimlico, was a memorable one. Kentucky Derby runner-up Journalism went off as the even-money favorite in the nine-horse field, and made his move after the leaders on the final turn. He had horse, but nowhere to go, and Umberto Rispoli attempted to create a hole between horses at the top of the stretch. He eventually squeezed his way through, but not before bumping and jostling for a few seconds. By the time he got clear, Gosger had opened up a long lead and looked tough to catch. However, Journalism gobbled up ground in the stretch and got up to win by a half-length in 1:55.46. He became the first Derby alum to win the Preakness since War of Will in 2019, and the second Preakness winner for Mike McCarthy, following Rombauer in 2021. A five-time winner in seven career starts, with earnings of $2,838,880, he’s owned by a partnership led by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.

SECOND STAR: AWESOME AARON. Older males squared off in the 1 3/16-mile Pimlico Special on Friday. Making his 34th start, but just his second in graded stakes company, Awesome Aaron sat just off the early pace while racing wide, then made his move around the final turn. Phileas Fogg opened up a clear advantage in the lane, but Awesome Aaron wore him down and scored by three-parts of a length in 1:56.67. It marked the first graded stakes win, or stakes win of any kind, for the 6-year-old gelding, whose career earnings total $571,262. He’s owned by Turman Racing Stable LLC and AJ Suited Racing Stable LLC, trained by Norm Casse, and ridden by John Velazquez.

THIRD STAR: MARGIE’S INTENTION. Friday’s feature at Pimlcio, the George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, was delayed for over an hour as an intense thunderstorm swept through Baltimore (including a tornado a few miles south of the track). After the storm cleared, the field went to the post on a suddenly sloppy track. Paris Lily set the early pace and remained clear in the stretch, but Louisiana-based Margie’s Intention wore her down and won by three-quarters of a length under Flavien Prat. It was her third career win, and fourth in stakes company. She ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:52.05, for owners Baron Stable and WinStar Farm and trainer Brad Cox.

Pimlico

FIRST STAR: JOURNALISM. Reaffirmed his status as one of the country’s top 3-year-olds on Saturday; is he bound for a Belmont Stakes clash with Sovereignty?

SECOND STAR: AWESOME AARON. Life has begun at six for this late-blooming gelding.

THIRD STAR: MARGIE’S INTENTION. Relished the mud and picked up her first stakes win in the process.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: ARNALDO BOCACHICA. Won five races on Friday, including four in a row, as he closes in on 3,000 career wins (he’s at 2,907).

SECOND STAR: PLAY IT LOUD. Defeated institutions such as Jubawithatwist and Muad’dib in Saturday’s feature, a second-level sprint.

THIRD STAR: W V LAD. It wasn’t easy, but he wore down longtime leader Powered by Love to win a West Virginia-bred sprint on Thursday for his second victory in a row.

Delaware Park

FIRST STAR: ROLL ON JESSE. Won the opening day feature, a first-level route for 3-year-olds.

SECOND STAR: KEVIN GOMEZ. Rode three of the eight winners on the opening day program.

THIRD STAR: SARA DEL FABBRO. Del Fabbro wasn’t far behind Gomez’s pace, with two winners of her own on Saturday.

Monmouth Park

FIRST STAR: SPEAKING. Led all the way to capture Sunday’s John J. Reilly Handicap for the second year in a row.

SECOND STAR: SUMMER’S COMIN. Sat the trip off a duel and drew away to win Saturday’s Spruce Fir Handicap by 4 1/4 lengths in a 16-1 upset.

THIRD STAR: RIVER DOG. Cruised on the lead and impressively won a second-level sprint by 3 3/4 lengths on Saturday.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR: PACO LOPEZ. Rode five winners in seven mounts on Tuesday.

SECOND STAR: FAR MO POWER. Came from last to win an open allowance sprint on Saturday as the second biggest longshot in the field at 8-1.

THIRD STAR: CARMELINA. Captured her 2025 debut on Monday in an open allowance sprint for fillies and mares, sitting off the pace and kicking on late.