UAE Derby winner Mendelssohn made the biggest strides, up to fourth in the new NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll.
Fresh off a narrow win in the Charles Town Classic, Something Awesome will be pointed to the Grade 3 Pimlico Special next month, trainer Jose Corrales said.
Caribou Club ($15.20) won the Henry S. Clark Stakes, while Hallie Belle ($31.20) was up in time in the Dahlia.
Trainer Greg Sacco, a New Jersey resident, was first on the grounds at Monmouth Park as the backside opened Friday for the 2018 meeting.
Grade 1 winner Ring Weekend and Grade 3 winner Ghost Hunter are among 14 set to contest the Henry S. Clark Stakes Saturday at Laurel.
Multiple graded stakes winner Hawksmoor is 7-5 on the morning line for Saturday’s Dahlia Stakes at Laurel Park.
Breeding organizations in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, and Delaware will offer bonuses for state-bred runners in the MATCH series this summer.
Local stakes winners Still Having Fun and VIP Code are among those who will contest Saturday’s Tesio Stakes at Laurel with a Preakness berth on the line.
Nine fillies are set to contest Saturday’s Weber City Miss at Laurel Park, which offers the winner a spot in May’s Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes.
Back for a second year, Equestricon will take place in Louisville October 29 and 30 — just in advance of the Breeders’ Cup.
