CHARLES TOWN PICKS AND HORSES TO WATCH: APR. 2

Sleepy Eyes Todd
Sleepy Eyes Todd won the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic. Photo by Coady Photography.

Charles Town Races has an eight-race card on tap for this evening. Post time for the opener is 7:00 p.m., and we’ve got Charles Town picks.

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RACE NUMBERCONTENDERSCOMMENTS
Race 14-1-5-2So, sure, the most likely winner here is one of the two Jeff Runco trainees, #1 McNally (1-1) or #2 Readmymind (8-5). But what’s fun about that? Both have kept better company, though without notable success. The former has made all four of her starts on turf or synthetic in Kentucky. The latter ran three times at Delaware over the summer but hasn’t run since September 2. Go-to rider Bocachica picks McNally, so you have to think that’s the runner that’s shown more in the mornings lately… We’ll try for an upset, though, with #4 Walkit Like I Talk (10-1). The Done Talking filly makes her career bow here and is the first to run from her dam, a winner in her third career start. She’s been training down at Ellorree, most likely with Goree Smith, a well-respected horseman who trained the dam. The works don’t tell you much, and the breeding is modest, but the price should be right…. #5 Needacarcalllouie (6-1) has bee third twice against similar going short and tries two turns for the first time here.
Race 71-5-6-2Speaking of upsets, let’s see if we can get one home in this claiming event. #1 Bold Valor (10-1) hasn’t hit the board in three ’21 starts following a productive, five-win 2020. But his better form last year would contend with this group, and given the early speed he’s shown and the rail draw, you have to think he’ll control this one up front and take ’em as far as he can, which on best could be a long way… #5 Golden Appeal (5-2) drops back into the claiming ranks after a handful of credible tries in allowance company, ran very well last time in for a tag… #6 Absalom (2-1) finished third against similar last out, and winner Prota came back to win an allowance in his follow-up. This one probably will press the pace from his outside draw and gets Boca in the irons… #2 Martin Man (8-5) ran second in Absalom’s most recent but has another start in the interim — a distant fifth-place finish in an allowance March 26. He wheels back on short rest today…

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