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: BAEZA. Going into Saturday’s Pennsylvania Derby at Parx, Baeza was regarded as one of the best 3-year-olds in the country. However, he had yet to break through with a stakes win, finishing second or third in stakes company four times. Without Sovereignty or Journalism to deal with on Saturday, Baeza was able to get his moment in the sun, winning by x lengths. He drafted well off the pace early on, while So Sandy, David of Athens, and Goal Oriented engaged in a three-way early duel through honest fractions. Baeza raced in seventh, about four lengths off the lead, around the far turn, and Hector Berrios angled him into the four-path to make his move. Goal Oriented offered mild resistance, but proved no match for Baeza, to pull clear for the victory. Magnitude got up for second, while Goal Oriented held third. The victory improved Baeza’s career record to 2-3-2 in eight career starts, with earnings of 1,503,500, and established himself as a strong contender for the Breeders’ Cup Classic. He’s owned by C R K Stable LLC and breeder Grandview Equine and trained by John Shirreffs.

SECOND STAR: CLICQUOT. One race prior at Parx, some of the country’s top 3-year-old fillies did battle in the Cotillion Stakes. Clicquot proved her Indiana Oaks win was no fluke with a determined neck victory. She sat in fifth place early on, just a few lengths off the lead. She moved into third at the top of the stretch, still in hot pursuit of La Cara and Dry Powder. In the last eighth, the gray Brendan Walsh trainee struck the front under Irad Ortiz, resisted the challenge of Dry Powder, and held off the late rally of local hopeful Ourdaydreaminggirl to secure the win. With her Cotillion victory, Clicquot improved to 4-for-5 lifetime with earnings of 840,153. She’s owned by X-Men Racing IV LLC, Madaket Stables LLC, and SF Racing LLC.

THIRD STAR: MAD HOUSE. Top 3-year-old sprinters met in the Gallant Bob Stakes earlier on Parx’s Saturday card. The much-ballyhooed Barnes, most recently third in the Allen Jerkens Stakes at Saratoga, was the overwhelming favorite, but he fell far behind early and never stood much of a chance. Meanwhile, Canterbury Park shipper Mad House lasted through blazing early fractions, including an opening quarter in 21.58 and a first half in 43.94, and won by 2 ¾ lengths for his first stakes win. He went off at 23-1, one of several longshots in the race to make an impact. 83-1 Gateskeeper got second, while 56-1 Fire Pit, a local hopeful, was third. This resulted in a 50-cent trifecta worth almost 4,000. Mad House had won four in a row since breaking his maiden at sixth asking at Canterbury in June, and has earned 281,815 lifetime. He’s owned by James Thares, trained by David Van Winkle, and ridden by Paco Lopez.

SECOND STAR: CLICQUOT. Cotillion-winning filly looks like she’s going to keep getting better.

THIRD STAR: MAD HOUSE. Ran a huge race for his first stakes win in the Gallant Bob.