Mid-Atlantic three stars: August 24, 2026 * The Racing Biz

Mid-Atlantic three stars: August 24, 2026

John Piassek
August 24, 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

Micanopy #2 ridden by Samuel Marin won the $200,000 Smarty Jones Stakes on August 18, 2026 at Parx Racing in Bensalem, Pa. Photo by Nikki Sherman/EQUI-PHOTO.

FIRST STAR: MICANOPY. Parx hosted their local prep for the Pennsylvania Derby on Tuesday, when a field of six 3-year-old males squared off over 1 1/16 miles in the Smarty Jones Stakes. He drafted off the pace early on, racing in fourth, three lengths off the lead, while odds-on favorite Ponder and Dream set an uncontested early lead. It wasn’t going to be easy to reel Ponder and Dream in, but Micanopy proved up to the task. Under vigorous urging from Samuel Marin, Micanopy managed to wear down the longtime leader and pulled clear in the last sixteenth, hitting the wire 1 1/2 lengths in front. This Florida-bred and Florida-sired gelding is already an amazing story, having been claimed for $8,000 at Tampa Bay Downs by owner Jane Perry and trainer Michael Simone in April. If he wins the Pennsylvania Derby next month, it’ll put the narrative over the top. He’s 4-for-10 lifetime with career earnings of $205,800.

SECOND STAR: TAP TO OPEN. It wasn’t as easy as her supporters might’ve liked, but Tap to Open got the job done in Tuesday’s Cathryn Sophia Stakes as the 3-10 favorite. The Kentucky invader was pressed on the pace by Mid-Atlantic hopeful Ms Sophistication, going through an opening quarter-mile in 23.27 seconds and the first half-mile in 46.95 seconds. Tap to Open opened back up on the far turn, but Ms Sophistication moved to reengage on the final bend, and when she stuck a half-length in front, she looked poised to draw off and pull the upset. However, Tap to Open wouldn’t go down without a fight, and dug back in towards the rail. The two dueled in a thrilling stretch battle, and Tap to Open ultimately prevailed by a head. She made her first stakes start a winning one, and went a mile and 70 yards in 1:41.37. Flavien Prat rode the Brad Cox-trained filly, who’s a homebred for Whisper Hill Farm LLC.

THIRD STAR: CADET CORPS. History was nearly made in the Claiming Crown Jewel Qualifier Starter Handicap at Colonial Downs on Saturday. Cadet Corps, who won this race last year and was second in the Jewel itself at Churchill Downs in November, won this one by 4 1/2 lengths. He raced in sixth in the early stages, then rallied wide on the turn and pulled away under Paco Lopez reinsmanship. In the

CHARLES TOWN

FIRST STAR: JUBA’S NOTION. Led all the way in an impressive 7 3/4-length win in a starter optional claiming sprint on Saturday, improving to 6-for-9 on the year in the process.

SECOND STAR: PETTY PERFECT. Lasted through fast early fractions to capture a second-level allowance sprint on Friday for her first win since last year’s Cavada Breeders’ Classic Stakes

THIRD STAR: I’M NOT CATTY. Won for the third time in his last four races in a first-level allowance sprint on Friday.

DELAWARE PARK

FIRST STAR: SOCIAL FORTRESS. Went gate-to-wire in a third-level allowance route for fillies and mares on Thursday in her first victory since the 2024 Sorority Stakes.

SECOND STAR: CIRCLE P. Rallied with a wide rush to win a second-level allowance sprint on Saturday.

THIRD STAR: MAGICAL WAYS. Made it five wins in a row in second-level allowance route on Thursday, leading all the way while racing off the rail.

COLONIAL DOWNS

FIRST STAR: CADET CORPS. Set himself up well for the Claiming Crown Jewel with his big win.

SECOND STAR: KERNESS K. Continued his form spree with a dramatic nose win in the Ready’s Rocket Express Qualifier Starter Handicap on Saturday for his ninth consecutive score.

THIRD STAR: WESTSIDE TILE. Hit the front in the stretch and held on for a length victory in the Emerald Qualifier Starter Handicap to cap the Saturday card and give Paco Lopez a riding grand slam.

MONMOUTH PARK

FIRST STAR: HAPPY OFFERING. Pressed early leader J J Zo Zo and wore him down in the stretch to win the Charles Hesse Handicap on Sunday, a day which featured three Jersey-bred stakes.

SECOND STAR: CAIRO SURPRISE. Raced three-wide on the pace and held off Boardwalk Jack’s rally from last to capture the New Jersey Breeders’ Handicap earlier on the Sunday program for his second stakes win of the meet.

THIRD STAR: LA RESOLANA. Made her stakes debut a winning one in the Eleven North Handicap later on the Sunday card; she’s now 4-for-4 on the Monmouth season.

PARX RACING

FIRST STAR: MICANOPY. Does a glass slipper await in the Pennsylvania Derby?

SECOND STAR: TAP TO OPEN. Showed her heart in the Cathryn Sophia and looks like a rising star who ought to be taken seriously in the Cotillion.

THIRD STAR: FIRE PIT. Accelerated when he found room and won the State Representative’s Sprint earlier on the Tuesday card.