CHARLES TOWN PICKS AND HORSES TO WATCH: September 24

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.

Carryovers: Jackpot Pick 6, $45,516

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE NUMBERCONTENDERSCOMMENTS
Race 31-6-5-3Top choice #1 May May’s Castle (3-1) was the beaten favorite on debut but ran a credible race to be third. That effort wasn’t particularly flattered when winner La Cubana ran up the track in a stake next out, but the experience should do her good, and improvement from there would likely make her a winner today. One thing she’ll need to overcome is the rail post, meaning she’ll need to get away well or risk being stuck behind a wall of horses… Obviously, you can ignore a Jeff Runco trainee, and one of those, #2 Moiraine (2-1), makes her debut in this spot. This daughter of Exaggerator is the first foal out of a Stormy Atlantic mare that was a two-time winner. She’s been training well enough towards her debut, and Runco, who has a 34% strike rate with first-timers in special weight company, will leg up go-to rider Bocachica… Trainer James Casey, who has a 23% strike rate with debut special weight runners, sends out #5 Windsor’s Play (9-2), a Windsor Castle filly who’s the first foal out of a 12-time winner… #3 A Blonde Thing (7-2) hasn’t been better than fourth in four previous tries versus similar, and while she gave an improved account of herself last time, others entice more…
Race 52-4-7-3Top choice #2 Mary’s Jewel (2-1) was never much involved last time and finished fourth, well behind a rival who’s here in #4 Dazzle Me (9-5). But we’re inclined to forgive that one, and we expect her to be up close throughout this evening. In a race short on pace, she might grab the lead or press, and that should stand her in good stead… Dazzle Me caught a perfect setup to score a 29-1 upset that day when another runner pressed 1-9 Bridging the Gap into defeat and this one was able to unleash her late kick. But she’s not likely to get so good a setup here, and you wonder if she can bring that same sort of effort twice in 10 days… #7 Uncaptured Ruby (6-1) ran a big one last out, in late July, to win against lesser. She has the tactical speed to be forwardly placed, and if she can repeat that effort, she rates consideration here. She’s been training forwardly since… #3 Dubai Was Lit (5-2) makes her first start in four months following several unsuccessful tries against better. She’s showing a moderate work tab in the interim…

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