CHARLES TOWN PICKS AND ANALYSIS: MAY 15
Charles Town has an eight-race Saturday card. Post time is the normal 7:00 p.m. Good luck!
RACE 1
4-5-6-1
In the opener on the Saturday night card scheduled to go postward not long after the Preakness Stakes is made official, #4 Miss Wave (3-1) looks primed for her second victory of the season for owner-trainer-breeder John McKee. #5 Lady Licious (10-1) certainly merits an upset chance in here for trainer Ollie Figgins III of Dance to Bristol fame while seeking her first win in four seasonal tries. #6 Privately (7-5) has been idle since winning consecutive starts in the fall of 2019 and may need a start or two before regaining her winning ways for trainer Javier Contreras. #1 Undeniable Touch (7-2) exits allowance company for trainer Anthony Farrior and will be dangerous here despite rail draw.
RACE 2
6-2-4-5
in this intriguing, open, one-turn maiden special weight event for three-year-old males, #6 Don’t Dare Me (6-5) was second last out and three times in first four starts and looks poised to graduate here with favorable outside draw for trainer Anthony Farrior. #2 Aces Up (8-1) makes career debut in this spot but merits an upset chance for trainer Juan Carlos Gotera. #4 Little Bold Bandit (9-5) makes local debut for trainer John (Jerry) Robb of Little Bold John and Anna’s Bandit fame and could provide mild upset in sixth career outing. #5 Runaway Crown (5-1) steps up from maiden claimers but gives Farrior chance to run one-two here.
- What we learned on Maryland Juvenile Stakes dayHere’s what we learned at Laurel Park for Saturday’s Maryland Juvenile and Maryland Juvenile Filly Stakes.
RACE 3
6-3-5-7
In this competitive, two-turn allowance for state-bred fillies and mares, #6 Door Buster (5-2) captured the It’s Binn Too Long Stakes last out and seeks her third straight score for Figgins. #3 Suzysellsseashells (2-1) looms the mild favorite in here while seeking her first win of the season for trainer Damon Dilodovico of Immortal Eyes fame. #5 That Kenney Kid (3-1) is looking to regain her winning ways since capturing the Triple Crown Nutrition Breeders Classics last fall for trainer Jeff Runco. #7 Boundtobeok (5-1) has won twice in three starts this year for trainer James W. Casey and certainly merits respect in this spot.
RACE 4
6-2-5-3
In this wide open, one-turn maiden special weight dash for fillies and mares, #6 Stacia Wildfire (15-1) makes career debut against a suspect group and looks poised to an upset for owner-trainer Greg Viands. #2 Fifth Illusion (12-1) also merits respect at a price for trainer Ernesto Perez. #5 English Heiress (8-5) has been idle since running in a stakes at Colonial Downs in the summer of 2019 and may need a race or two. #3 In Speight Of Sara (9-5) has been idle since a fall 2019 maiden special weight outing at Hawthorne and might also need a race or two to graduate.
RACE 5
8-7-4-3
In this one-turn dash for $5,000 claimers, #8 Ticker Tape Parade (7-2) should benefit from outside draw here and forged a mild upset for trainer Mario Serey, Jr. #7 London Werewolf (15-1) also should benefit from outside post and loom a threat at a big price for trainer Ronney Brown. #4 Taptaptap (9-5) won earlier this year and has been second and fourth since but has also been idle since late February and could be tough to back at a short price. #3 Fluent in Sarcasm (5-1) has won twice in four starts this year and gives Brown an outside chance to run one-two here.
RACE 6
1-4-7-3
In this interesting, two-turn maiden special weight event for three-year-olds, #1 Fashionable (6-1) makes second start for Contreras following a decent debut outing going one-turn and should be a factor stretching out here. #4 Heart and Hope (6-5) is the lone sophomore filly trying boys in her career debut for trainer Anthony Margotta, Jr. and New Jersey shipper looms the solid choice. #7 One More Factor (5-2) finished nondescript seventh against maiden claimers in his career debut for Jonathan Maldonado but merits respect here. #3 Subject to Change (3-1) makes his career debut off a series of good workouts at Laurel and Pimlico for Robb.
- Maryland Juvenile: A mystery solved, decades laterSaturday’s Maryland Juvenile Stakes should be a fun race, but it’s unlikely to launch the careers of two Classic winners, like the 1982 edition did.
RACE 7
7-5-4-2
In this contentious, one-turn allowance dash for older males, #7 Command The Cat (3-1) looks to regain his winning ways for owner-breeder-trainer McKee and gets favorable outside draw in this spot. #5 Stretch the Truth (5-2) makes local debut for trainer Claudio Gonzalez and certainly merits respect in this spot. #4 Vic’s Pick (5-1) makes second start of the season for owner-breeder-trainer Michael Sterling and should improve off seasonal debut. #2 Brother Corbin (8-1) makes seasonal debut in a tough spot but could prove to play a spoiler role here.
RACE 8
8-4-2-6
In this two-turn maiden $15,000 claiming event for state-bred males to cap the Saturday card, #8 Another Move (12-1) rates more than an upset chance for trainer and former local jockey Lenworth Kirlew. #4 Cocky Winchell (9-2) may have found the right spot to graduate for owner-trainer Farrior. #2 Blue Collar Boy (9-5) exits maiden special weight company first two outings and looms the likely favorite here for trainer Tim Grams of Runnin’toluvya and Moonlit Song fame. #6 Stride On By (8-5) is one of only two sophomores trying older here for trainer Tim Shanley.
LATEST NEWS
1st. Black is back,Lady Licious was delicious.
2nd.”Don’t Dare Me”but I see”Aces up”coming up.
“Aces Up”did suck and”Little Bold Bandit” robbed us blind.
3rd.”Door Buster”should bust this one wide open.
4th.”In Speight Of Sara”I suspect “Princess Kokachin”will win.
But this is the kind of race where I’ll stick with Mr Black’s pick.
Mr Black led me astray but Princess Kokachin”did win.
5th.That “London Werewolf”can turn
into a bat and that will be that-let’s get fat.
Somebody flashed a cross and scared the “…Werewofl”off,
it’s a mystery how “That’s History”escaped our scrutiny.
6th.Ya gotta be a dope do go against”Heart and Hope”
but “Fashionable”looks like a reasonable alternative.
7th. & 8th.Luckily I went to eat during the 7th while Janice Groves proves anyone can win at Charlie.
I was tempted to put”Twentytwenty”on “Another Move”but Kirlew brings in too few so I’ll hope
that “Cocky Winchell”will”Stride On By””Blue Collar Boy”and bring me some joy.
Vaya con Dios,amigos.