Charles Town picks and horses to watch: October 28

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, $6,171

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE

Race 4

CONTENDERS

6-1-3-2

ANALYSIS

The most interesting horse in this allowance — though not our top choice — is #1 Spurn (5-2), who is returning from a 17-month break. He’d won three of six one-turn dashes at CT, and one of those defeats was a near-miss third behind Golden Key in the Coin Collector. If ready and back to his old self, he wins here, but we’re inclined to do the wait-and-see routine in the top spot. Instead, we’ll use #6 Grumpelstiltskin (4-1), who will need to get back to his better form here. The shape of the race, with some early types to tackle each other, should work for his later-running approach, and he’s drawn well outside… #3 Be Be Bop (9-2) arrives off a win and beat similar two back… #2 Majestic Seas (2-1) may be speed of the speed but has failed against similar previously…

Race 7

6-3-2-4

Top choice #6 Motawaafeq (1-1) has run two good races at CT, breaking his maiden in his first local try and then running a good second against allowance foes in his first try versus winners. He looks poised to make it two-for-three in this spot… #3 Benny the Book (8-1) earned a hard-fought win last out to graduate, and in his third start off a seven-month break, he owns the right to improve… #2 Its Over (5-2) owns the best Brisnet speed figs of the group, and it’s a positive the trainer Claudio Gonzalez ships him to CT, where he can run for a pretty good purse while protected from being claimed. But it’ll be his first local try, and you’ll want to be a bit cautious on the odds. He’s also been the beaten favorite in his last two… On the flip side, a horse who may end up offering some value is #4 Violent Rock (4-1), who ran pretty well last time he ran locally. We’re inclined to draw a line through the last when he stopped at Parx and give him another crack in this spot…

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