Charles Town picks and horses to watch: December 2

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: None

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE

Race 3

CONTENDERS

8-1-10-7

ANALYSIS

Two-year-old maiden fillies square off here, and we’ll look to first-timers to do major damage. One of those is #8 Frenchies Gold (5-2) for trainer Jeff Runco and rider Arnaldo Bocachica. This one is a daughter of Golden Years out of a stakes-placed Oratory mare. Runco has a good record with firsters, and this miss has a pretty strong work tab… #1 Odina (5-1) is a full sister to the stakes winner Unaquoi and has some pretty good works on the tab for trainer Ollie Figgins… #10 Castle Toy (3-1) has been gradually moving in the right direction and was runner-up versus similar in last… Sire McCraken is doing well with debut runners like #7 La Maddalena (8-1) for trainer Crystal Pickett. This one is a half to two winners…

Race 5

8-2-7-4

We’ll look for a mild upset in this maiden event for older with #8 Tout Ensemble (5-1), making her first start in Greg Viands’ barn. This one has been keeping better company, most recently at Gulfstream Park, While she hasn’t had much (or, honestly, any) success to speak of, she’s also had trouble lines in pretty much all of her starts. Last time out, she was up close early before being steadied back to last in traffic, but notably, she kept trying to the wire. The class relief aids the cause… Leading trainer Anthony Farrior has done well bringing horses claimed in Kentucky up north, and he’s trying to continue that streak with #2 Sweet Valeria (6-1)… It’s not every day you see an Into Mischief filly at CT, but such is the case with morning line favorite #7 Into Disco (7-5). This Dale Capuano trainee was second on debut on the dirt at Colonial before making a couple of starts on the lawn in Maryland, now switches back to dirt. Trainer Dale Capuano has a strong record, and the resume makes this one the most likely winner. But the value proposition may be hard to find, and at something like the morning line — in her first race on a bullring and under the lights — we’re inclined to try to beat her on top… #4 Linda’s Taj (8-1) has been second and third versus similar in two recent starts…

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