Mid-Atlantic Three Stars: December 8, 2025 * The Racing Biz

There was a lot of racing action in the Mid-Atlantic this past week.

Here’s a look at each song’s “three stars”:

THE BEST IN THE REGION

FIRST STAR: JUST FILTERED. On Saturday at Laurel Park, Just Philtored took a step toward a potential Maryland-bred year-end championship with a 1 ¾-length victory in the Maryland Juvenile Filly Stakes. Seeking redemption after finishing third in the final round of the Smart Halo Stakes, she was sent off as second choice 2-1 in a competitive field of five horses. Her main rivals included Maryland Million Lassie winner Slewperstitius and Smart Halo winner Doc’s Miracle. JG Torrealba rated Just Philtored in the early stages of the pace, placing her in second while Parx invader Project Maximus set the pace. As they turned the corner, Project Maximus faded, Just Philtored took command, and neither Slewperstitus nor Doc’s Miracle could make an impact. Just Phitored covered seven furlongs in 1.26.02 for her fourth career victory and third in the stakes company. She won the Keswick Stakes and the Dolley Madison Stakes at Colonial Downs earlier this summer. She is by Great Notion and comes out of the very productive broodmare Slow and Steady. Red White and Blue Racing LLC and London Reid Thoroughbreds are the winning owners; Mike Trombetta is the winning trainer.

SECOND STAR: CODE OF SILENCE. Two races earlier, a wide-open field of nine 2-year-old males battled in the Maryland Juvenile Stakes. After a come-from-behind victory in his final effort last, Code of Silence was the 9-5 favourite. He made his supporters sweat, but he eventually won neck and neck with a last-to-first rally. Angel Cruz started asking him for his best on the turn, and he was eventually forced to the middle of the court. Despite racing the widest of them all, he continued to make up ground in the track and put his head forward in the final strides. GQ Worthy and Tartabull, who both also came off the pace, finished second and third respectively. Tartabull’s trainer, Chad Summers, filed a breach claim after Code of Silence came in in the waning moments of the race, but it was disallowed. The winner is by Murmur Farm’s Blofeld and was bred by the Holts and the Palumbos. He is owned by Mount Peru Farm and trained by Tim Keefe.

THIRD STAR: HOUSING INHERITANCE. Sunday’s event at Laurel was a second-level sprint for fillies and mares at six furlongs. Dwelling Legacy’s form didn’t look great on paper, but the betting public believed in the trainer/jockey dream team of Gary Capuano and Yedsit Hazlewood and sent her off as 5-2 favourite. She lived up to the hype, taking control of the pace from the outpost and opening up a clear lead. Howler moved inside to challenge the leader, but Dwelling Legacy fended her off to win by three lengths. She ran the distance in 1:04.43 and improved to 3-for-9 on the season for owner Pinochle Partners LLC.

SECOND STAR: QUASI WARRIOR. Withdrew under pressure to win a Pennsylvania-bred sprint on Wednesday to improve to a 3-of-4 lifetime mark; it wouldn’t be a shock to see him in the Pennsylvania-based stakes company next year.

THIRD STAR: I FEELUCKY TONITE. Lasted an early game to win a first-level sprint on Wednesday, continuing a busy year; he is 5-for-16 this year, with five more second-place finishes.