Mid-Atlantic three stars: June 29, 2026 * The Racing Biz

Mid-Atlantic three stars: June 29, 2026

John Piassek
June 29, 2026

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: HYMN. The feature race on the final Saturday of the Laurel Park summer meet was the DeFrancis Dash, featuring a field of six going six furlongs. Hymn, coming off back-to-back allowance wins at Churchill Downs, converted a great trip to win by 5 1/2 lengths. Sent off as the 8-5 favorite, he sat in third in the early stages while Celtic Contender and Faust engaged each other in early battle. Celtic Contender dismissed Faust and won the battle, but was soon challenged by Hymn in the stretch. Celtic Contender could offer little resistance, and Hymn pulled away for an impressive score. He ran the distance in 1:11.51, with Rafael Bejarano, in from Kentucky for the mount, up for owners Fleur de Lis Stable, William Sparks, and Bret Jones and trainer Ron Moquett. Celtic Contender held second over Wickeddivine.

SECOND STAR: BARBADIAN RUNNER. This Laurel-loving gelding put another arrow in his quiver on Saturday when he won the Deputed Testamony Stakes. He rated off of early leader Catalytic, then made his move on the final turn. In the stretch, Barbadian Runner took a clear lead, but was soon met by a fresh challenger in Adero. That 12-1 longshot looked ready to roll by, but Barbadian Runner called on all he had and fended him off, hitting the wire a nose in front in 1:52.90 for a mile and an eighth. The winner’s now 9-for-23 lifetime with earnings of $932,050, putting him right on the doorstep of being the latest Maryland-bred millionaire. Regular rider Forest Boyce had the call for owners AJ Will Win Stables LLC and trainer Henry Walters.

THIRD STAR: MAIDA. The Saturday stakes action at Laurel kicked off with the Alma North Stakes for older female sprinters at 6 1/2 furlongs. Last year’s Weather Vane Stakes winner, Maida, made her 2026 debut in this spot and was dazzling, taking the Alma North by 10 1/2 lengths. She broke well from the outside post and quickly established a clear early lead. None of her five rivals stood a chance of catching her, as she pulled away under a drive from Sheldon Russell and won as much the best. She ran the distance in 1:18.44 for owner Goodfella’s LLC and trainer Brittany Russell.

LAUREL PARK

FIRST STAR: HYMN. Delivered his breakthrough performance in the DeFrancis Dash.

SECOND STAR: BARBADIAN RUNNER. He’s run three big races so far this year and looks well-positioned for a successful Maryland Million Classic title defense.

THIRD STAR: MAIDA. Could make plenty of noise in sprint stakes in the back half of the year, both locally and elsewhere if her connections choose.

CHARLES TOWN

FIRST STAR: TIME TO ROCK. Last year’s Dash for Cash Breeders’ Classic winner earned his first win of 2026 on Saturday, taking a second-level allowance dash in a very determined come-from-behind effort.

SECOND STAR: JUBA’S PARADE. Took advantage of a fast pace and got up to win a second-level allowance sprint on Friday.

THIRD STAR: NOMAR ARROYO BUENO. Won three races on Thursday and three more on Friday.

DELAWARE PARK

FIRST STAR: MCGREADY. Rallied from last to win the washed-off Kent Stakes going away on Saturday.

SECOND STAR: MISS FULTON GAL. Split horses late and drew off to victory in the similarly off-the-grass Christiana Stakes earlier on the Saturday program.

THIRD STAR: KERNESS K. He made his backers sweat, rallying from dead last to get up in the last few jumps in a starter allowance sprint to kick off the Saturday program; he’s now a seven-time winner on the year before its halfway point.

COLONIAL DOWNS

FIRST STAR: DAY TO DAY. After finishing stakes-placed twice earlier in her career, she broke through for her first stakes win in Saturday’s Brookmeade Stakes.

SECOND STAR: WAR HUMOR. Led all the way in the Edward Evans Stakes later on the Saturday card.

THIRD STAR: PACO LOPEZ. Started his Colonial meet on the right note with three wins Friday and four more on Saturday.

MONMOUTH PARK

FIRST STAR: JEWEL OF THE OCEAN. Even though she had trouble getting settled, she had enough left in the tank to wire the field in the Jersey Girl Handicap on Saturday.

SECOND STAR: CIPRIANO GIL. Went a perfect 3-for-3 with his Friday mounts.

THIRD STAR: TWO’S A CROWD. Easily handled a grass starter handicap field as the 2-5 chalk on Sunday.

PARX RACING

FIRST STAR: DOWNTOWNCHALYBROWN. Lasted through an early duel and drew away to win a starter optional claiming sprint by seven lengths on Monday, for his second consecutive victory.

SECOND STAR: LUCKY DUDE. Sat off the pace and moved with a rush to win a starter optional claiming sprint of his own on Tuesday.

THIRD STAR: MORE RANSOM. Won a starter optional claiming route on Monday for her fourth win of the year in seven starts, to go along with three exacta finishes.