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: BARBADIAN RUNNER. Saturday’s Maryland Million Classic looked like a coronation for local legend Post Time. He came into the race with a perfect 10-for-10 record at Laurel Park, and looked poised to extend it to 11 consecutive victories over five rivals. However, Barbadian Runner, already a four-time stakes winner on the year, had other ideas. The gray 3-year-old son of Barbados drafted in third place early on, while Blue Kingdom set slow early fractions on a loose lead. Blue Kingdom’s strides began to shorten in the stretch, and Post Time rallied up the inside, while Barbadian Runner made his move on the outside. However, Post Time did not display his usual kick, and Barbadian Runner kept on going to win by ¾ of a length. Post Time could do no better than second, while Blue Kingdom held on for third. He’s now won five times in 10 starts on the year, and six times in 18 races, with career earnings of 730,630. He’s owned by AJ Will Win Stables LLC, trained by Henry Walters, and ridden by Forest Boyce.

SECOND STAR: TEACHINTHERELEASE. About 73 miles west and six hours later, some of the top West Virginia-bred older males around met in the 1 ⅛-mile Sam Huff West Virginia Breeders’ Classic. Teachintherelease was the 1-5 favorite in the 10-horse field, on the strength of three consecutive victories. He made it four in a row with a dominant 14 ¼-length triumph. He went straight to the early lead under Carlos Lopez, maintained a comfortable advantage heading up the backstretch the final time, and drew away further in the stretch, covering the distance over a fast track in 1.52.67. He’s now won 14 times in 32 career starts, with a further 10 runner-up finishes, earning 533,662 in the process. He’s owned by Robert Cole Jr. and trained by Stephen Murdock.

THIRD STAR: SLAM NOTION. The Maryland Million card wrapped up with the Maryland Million Sprint at six furlongs. Haileysfirstnotion went off as the 3-2 favorite in a competitive eight horse field, but ended up third behind Slam Notion. That rival sat off the pace in the early stages, while Haileysfirstnotion was pressed by Twisted Ride. As they rounded the turn, Slam Notion made his move after the pacesetting pair, and he took command at the eighth pole. Those two fought back, but Slam Notion had more to give, and he prevailed by 1 ¼ lengths. This is Slam Notion’s fifth win of the year and second stakes victory, having taken the Star de Naskra Stakes at Colonial Downs in July. He’s a homebred for Nancy and Eric Rizer, trained by Robbie Bailes and ridden by Jevian Toledo. It was the trio’s second winner of the day, following Slewperstitus’s triumph in the Lassie earlier in the program. Toledo also won the Turf Sprint aboard Had to Have Him. 

SECOND STAR: DOCTOR ABBIE. Prevailed in a second-level sprint for fillies and mares on Monday, fending off the determined Aoife’s Magic in the process.

THIRD STAR: MR. PUNCTUALITY. Crossed the wire second in a first-level sprint on Wednesday, but was elevated to victory via DQ.