Region’s Best

FIRST STAR: BUCCHERINO. The Memorial Day feature at Monmouth Park was the Mr. Prospector Stakes for older males at six furlongs. Buccherino, in his first stakes start of the year, was sent away as the 4-5 favorite in the six-horse field. He pressed early leader Super Chow, hit the front after the top of the stretch, and fended off the late challenges of Subrogate and Dean Delivers to win by a length. He’s now a six-time winner, with two of those in stakes company, and earnings of $317,500. He ran the distance on a fast track in 1:09.47 for owner Happy Tenth Stable, trainer Alfredo Velazquez, and rider Paco Lopez.

SECOND STAR: PACO LOPEZ. Speaking of Lopez, Monmouth’s perennial leading rider had a huge day on Sunday. He rode six winners from 10 mlunts on the card. He bookended the card with Kelly Breen-trained winners, taking home race 1 on One Time Willard and race 11 aboard I Believe in Magic. In between, he won the 5th race with Fatima’s Blessing, for trainer Mike Dini, race 7, the Smart N Classy Handicap, aboard Chuck Spina trainee Mia’s Crusade, race 9 with Jorge Duarte-trained Don’t Listen, and race 10 on Stillthinkofyou, trained by Derek Ryan. His big day enabled Lopez to take a commanding lead in the jockey standings, with 21 wins in 66 mounts.

THIRD STAR: R DISASTER. Older sprinting fillies and mares met in the Rehoboth Stakes at Delaware Park on Saturday. R Disaster, who was second in her previous three stakes tries; was 1-2 to get over the hump. She did so, pressing early leader Miss Harriett and drawing off to win by 6 1/2 lengths in 1:09.83 for six furlongs. She’s never missed the exacta in nine starts and now sports career earnings of $320,180. Jorge Ruiz was up for owners Averill Racing LLC, Two Eight Racing, and Anthony Mattera and trainer Saffie Joseph.

Laurel Park

FIRST STAR: INSTANT COFFEE. Dug in and fought on in the stretch to win a third-level route on Sunday, getting up over New York shipper Otello, the first starter for Miguel Clement.

SECOND STAR: BUMP N RUN. Rallied from last and wore down the leaders to capture a third-level sprint on Sunday, washed off the grass and run at 5 1/2 furlongs on dirt.

THIRD STAR: HAD TO HAVE HIM. Made his 2025 debut a winning one on Saturday, drawing off to impressively win a washed-off second-level sprint.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: MENDYS HONEY. Got up in the last few jumps to win Saturday’s Fancy Buckles Stakes as the 11-10 favorite.

SECOND STAR: ZACHAMUNDO. Sat the trip and prevailed in a West Virginia-bred non-winners of three allowance on Friday.

THIRD STAR: MAXIMILLIONS DREAM. One race prior on Friday, this one batled for teh early lead and drw away to win a non-wnners of two dash in impressive style.

Delaware Park

FIRST STAR: R DISASTER. Her Rehoboth win may end up as a springboard for bigger spots later in the year.

SECOND STAR: CADET CORPS. Sat a perfect trip off a hot pace to win a third-level route on Saturday.

THIRD STAR: GOLDEN CANDY. Led all the way in a second-level sprint on Friday; he’s now finished in the exacta 27 times in 40 career starts.

Monmouth Park

FIRST STAR: BUCCHERINO. Lived up to expectations and showed determination to capture the Mr. Prospector.

SECOND STAR: PACO LOPEZ. A big day on Sunday has propelled him to another big lead in the jockeys’ race.

THIRD STAR: BARBADIAN RUNNER. Captured the off-the-grass Jersey Derby on Saturday for his third stakes win of the season.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR: OFFALY COOL. Rated off the pace and drew away to win an open allowance route on Tuesday for his first victory of the year.

SECOND STAR: BIG BOYS ANSWER. Rallied four-wide to win a second-level sprint on Monday, improving to 3-for-5 on the year in the process.

THIRD STAR: LIBERTY STAR. Won his fourth race in a row on Wednesday, a first-level sprint, by 4 3/4 lengths.