It’s one of Charles Town’s biggest cards of the year, featuring the G3 Charles Town Oaks.  Herein, selections for the biggest races… oh, and by the way, check out The Racing Biz hosting this evening’s paddock show at Charles Town!

Race 6 – Rachel’s Turn Stakes, 2yo WV-bred fillies, 4 1/2 furlongs, $50,000

  1. R C’s Daisyduke (6-5) — Two-for-two by a combined 12 lengths, speed to burn, and a promising recent work tab make this filly a handful here.
  2. Carita (5-1) — Surprisingly poised effort in career debut, saving ground before swinging out midstretch to get up late.  Distance the concern — she seemed outfooted at 5f, let alone today’s 4 1/2 — but she shows a sharp 3f breeze in the meantime for trainer Ingrid Mason.
  3. Aye a Song (2-1) — Nice win at first asking for daughter of Fiber Sonde, and one of seven to run back won next out.  She’s been away since June, with a middling work tab.

Race 7 – It’s Only Money Stakes, 3yo and up WV-bred, 4 1/2 furlongs, $50,000

  1. Greenway Court (9-5) — Hate to be chalk-eating weasels, but two-time defending champ enters on a three-race win streak and has been worse than second at the distance once in 17 tries.  Lone possible concern: Windsor Castle gelding’s been away since July 16, but interim work tab looks solid, and he’s fired fresh before.
  2. Banner Yield (5-1) — Ran fifth against similar, including top choice, last out, but he has some better efforts in the bank.
  3. Just Fuhr Real (2-1) — Good try to be third last out at MNR, and that race has produced two next-out winners.  But he’d be easier to endorse at projected short odds if he won more — just six-for-51 in his career.

Race 8 – Handicap, 3yo and up WV-bred, 6 1/2 furlongs, $30,000

  1. Perfect Cross (9-2) — Odds figure to drift up on this infrequent winner. Tapscott trainee rallied late to upset last fall’s WVBC Onion Juice, and gets just that sort of setup — plenty of early lick to run into — again.
  2. Hear the Chatter (3-1) — John Casey trainee got cooked on the front end going 7f last time in the Leavitt, and a similar outcome’s a threat here, but he stayed on well enough to hold the place. Main frontrunning threat to win as speed of the speed.
  3. In the Fairway (5-2) — Despite solid record — 10 wins from 29 starts — son of Posse is working on a 12-race losing streak. Likes the distance and figures to get a good trip behind the speed.

Race 9 – Pink Ribbon Stakes, 3yo and up fillies and mares, 7 furlongs, $100,000

  1. Flattering Bea (9-2) — CT lover has won six of nine over the strip and ran second to speedster Geeky Gorgeous in this event a year ago. Jose Montano remains aboard, and circumstances might be right to get the money.
  2. Checkupfromzneckup (2-1) — Talented runner had no great excuse when beaten as 3-2 fave in Lighthouse S. at MTH after getting away with soft early fractions.  Interesting to see trainer Rubley bring her back just 12 days later.
  3. Medaglia d’Argento (6-1) — Weaver-Bravo combo doesn’t often find itself in WV, which is intriguing enough, and you have to wonder if closing sort might like that two-turn 7f trip.

Race 10 – Wild And Wonderful Stakes, 3yo and up, 7 furlongs, $100,000

  1. Rise Up (3-1) — Refugee from ’14 Triple Crown trail has made one career start at CT — and delivered career-best Beyer of 99 while winning the Hilton by 10 lengths. Jose Ortiz in the irons won’t hurt, either. Makes second start off seven-week break in just 13 days, an angle that’s proven successful for trainer Chris Richard (21 percent winners).
  2. Praetereo (6-1) — Hard-hitting old-timer has banked more than a half-million in earnings and enters hot young trainer Joe Sharp’s barn off the claim; Sharp is 30 percent first off the claim with 60 percent finishing in the money, and this fella’s back class is more than solid enough to get him there.
  3. Pants On Fire (5-2) – Hard hitter followed unconventional path: turning a win here into a date in Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, where he ran a good third.  He has just one win since and seems to be on the down swing.  But he’s training well, and Paco Lopez remains in the irons.

Race 11 – G3 Charles Town Oaks, 3yo fillies, 7 furlongs, $350,000

  1. White Clover (9-2) — Rallied smartly from fifth to make the lead in last out G3 MTH Oaks before failing late to be third. Two of three to run back have won, including a stakes victor, and this runner’s shown versatility to lead or stalk. Boo Boo Clark takes the ride once again, and he and trainer Larry Jones hit 27 percent of the time.
  2. Sarah Sis (9-5) — Multiple G3 winner figures to try to take the short route — on the lead and on the rail — all the way ’round and might be good enough to do it.  Ingrid Mason trainee is making her second start off a two-month breather.
  3. Fusaichi Red (5-2) — Boy, that was an eventful trip for this runner in the G2 Prioress when finishing third at 17-1 odds.  That was less than two weeks ago, but trainer George Weaver likes what he sees enough to come here. Two-back win in the Miss Woodford at MTH turned out to be a productive heat, with two next-out winners and three others who placed.