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: HOLLYWOOD IMPORT. The Spectacular Bid Stakes at Laurel Park, originally scheduled for Jan. 31, was pushed back to last Wednesday due to frigid temperatures. It proved to be worth the wait, as 3-year-olds Hollywood Import and Close the Gate engaged in a thriller. The former, sent off as one of three 5-2 co-favorites, set the early pace on the rail while the latter persistently hounded him. As they rounded the turn, Close the Gate poked his nose in front, and looked ready to go by in the stretch. However, Hollywood Import refused to go down without a fight. The two dueled down the lane, with Hollywood Import ultimately getting the upper hand by three-quarters of a length. The Gary Capuano trainee has now won two consecutive stakes races, following his win in the Heft Stakes on Dec. 27. He ran seven furlongs on a fast track in 1:26.36 with J.G. Torrealba up for owners Pocket 3’s Racing LLC.

SECOND STAR: VICTORY MUSIC. Half an hour prior on the Laurel Wednesday card, a competitive field of seven 3-year-old fillies met in the Xtra Heat Stakes over six furlongs. Victory Music, the slight 5-2 favorite, won by a neck after another exciting duel. She battled on the pace in the two-path early on, hounding early leader For the Ladies. Bresha, who enjoyed a perfect trip off the duel, put a half-length in front in the stretch, but Victory Music wouldn’t back down. She fought back and prevailed, with Bresha forced to settle for second. The winner ran the distance in 1:13.72 for breeder/owner Three Diamonds Farm and trainer Mike Maker with Angel Cruz aboard.

THIRD STAR: COUNTERSPY. The feature at Parx was an open allowance sprint at six furlongs. Counterspy rode the rail to victory in a 14-1 upset. He drafted towards the back of the pack on the inside in the early stages while Bernie’s Mitts, Twisted Ride, and Buccherino challenged each other for command. Francisco Martinez briefly angled Counterspy off the rail in the stretch, but when he didn’t see any racing room, he angled his mount back towards the rail and moved to the lead. He prevailed by three-quarters of a length, with Buccherino holding on for second. Maximus Meridius, sent off as the 7-10 favorite off back-to-back stakes wins, came up empty and finished fifth. The winner ran three-quarters of a mile in 1:09.67 for owner Jack Armstrong and trainer Robert Mosco.

SECOND STAR: HARP’S HOT CORNER. Shook off a pace challenger and crushed a first-level sprint field by six lengths

THIRD STAR: MALIBU WARRIOR. Upset a first-level route contest at 31-1 on Thursday.