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

FIRST STAR: Already a winner of the Virginia Oaks and the Delaware Oaks, Fondly was the 6-5 favorite to capture her third Mid-Atlantic Oaks of the year in Saturday’s Monmouth Oaks at Monmouth Park. However, she proved no match for Running Away, who won by 1 ¼ lengths for her first graded stakes victory. She rated in second place in the early stages, tracking second choice Paris Lily. After being asked by Victor Espinoza on the far turn, she pulled clear in the stretch and held off Fondly, who made a bid from midpack but could not threaten the leader. She ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.26 over a fast dirt track, and improved to 3-for-4 on the year and 4-for-7 lifetime. She previously won the Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct and the Horseshoe Indianapolis Handicap earlier this season. Wesley Ward trains her for owner/breeder Stud TNT.

SECOND STAR: PATRIOT SPIRIT. Some of the top older sprinters in the Mid-Atlantic squared off in the seven-furlong Reigh Count Stakes at Colonial Downs on Saturday. Patriot Spirit, the winner of last year’s Illinois Derby and stakes-placed twice on the season, picked up his first stakes win of the year with a dominant four-length score. He lived up to his 4-5 expectations after dueling with Celtic Contender early on, then putting him away and drawing off in the stretch for an emphatic victory under Mychel Sanchez. He ran the distance over the typically fast Colonial main track in 1:21.01, boosting his earnings to $421,210 in the process. He’s owned by Mellon Patch Inc. and trained by Michael Campbell.

THIRD STAR: ALANI. One race prior, older female sprinters traveled seven furlongs in the Love Sign Stakes. The Rudy Brisset pair of Top Gun Girl and Bourbon Breeze were well-respected, going off as the 7-5 favorite and the 2-1 second choice, respectively. However, they both finished up the track, as local hopeful Alani, the 2-1 third favorite, lasted through a pace battle and won by 1 ¾ lengths. She dueled with Top Gun Girl from that one’s inside, then pulled clear on the turn and kept longshot pace-stalker Happy Clouds at bay. After entering the year 1-for-7 lifetime, she’s found her best stride this season, with a 4-for-7 record and earnings of over $200,000. She’s owned by Hardesty Stable and Michael Day, trained by Michael Moore, and ridden by Andy Hernandez.

COLONIAL DOWNS

FIRST STAR: PATRIOT SPIRIT. Found a field to his liking and ran away with the Reigh Count.

SECOND STAR: ALANI. Parx-based filly lasted through pace pressure and scored one for the Mid-Atlantic contingent in the Love Sign.
THIRD STAR: BARTLETT. Led all the way in a third-level dirt route earlier on the Saturday program.

CHARLES TOWN

FIRST STAR: ZIP START. Delivered on her 3-10 promise with an impressive 4 ¾-length win in Saturday’s Sylvia Bishop Memorial Stakes.

SECOND STAR: HOLY SYNCHRONICITY. Pulled a 19-1 upset in an open allowance sprint on Thursday.

THIRD STAR: LIFE IS DAILY. Crushed a non-winners of two West Virginia-bred field by 7 ¾ lengths on Friday, improving to 2-for-2 lifetime in the process.

DELAWARE PARK

FIRST STAR: GOODBYE NOTE. Chased early leader Awesome Flay and wore him down to win a second-level route on Thursday.

SECOND STAR: SUMMER’S COMIN’. Stalked the pace and drew off to win a first-level sprint on Wednesday. 

THIRD STAR: BABY BLOCKS. Sat the trip and converted to win a starter optional claiming grass sprint on Thursday.

MONMOUTH PARK

FIRST STAR: RUNNING AWAY. After two listed stakes wins, picked up her first graded stakes score on Saturday.

SECOND STAR: GERRARDS CROSS. Made the early lead and forgot to stop in Sunday’s Colleen Stakes.

THIRD STAR: CUPID’S DUDE. Earned his third win of the Monmouth season, and fifth win of the year overall, with a nose victory in a starter optional claiming route on Saturday.

PARX RACING

FIRST STAR: OFFALY COOL. Parx-loving gelding prevailed in an open allowance on Monday despite breaking through the gate before the race. 

SECOND STAR: MYCHEL SANCHEZ. Rode four winners on both Wednesday’s and Thursday’s cards. 

THIRD STAR: DUKE OF GLOUCESTER. Crushed a second-level field on Thursday for his second win in 10 days.

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