Picks and analysis for this afternoon’s card from Charles Town Races:

• RACES ON CARD: 13
• CARRYOVERS: None (prior to Aug. 21)
• POST TIME: 5:00 p.m.

RACE 5 – Sadie Hawkins Stakes

3. Maggie’s Girl	Likely to control this one from the jump and should be tough to reel in; cooked in speed duel in latest
5. Petty Perfect	Might be well positioned should the top choice falter
2. The Sky Is Falling	Flying late to win last out (including a 23 3/5 third quarter); earlier career form puts her in the mix

RACE 6

10. Jungle Boogie	Half to stakes winner Jungle Beast rallied willingly despite somewhat troubled trip in latest and might be ready to take another step
8. Entice Me	Bested by talented rival in latest and repeat puts him right there
4. Gimme a Holler	Stretch out didn’t go as hoped when pressed into submission by Captain Hallett, but he appears a cut above what’s in this group

RACE 7 – Last Enchantment Overnight S.

3. Penguin Power	21-win veteran might be able to tuck in a couple behind a duel and pounce when ready
8. Duncan Idaho	Best of this group and should win, but his record when drawing in the outer half of the field (4-for-8) looks a lot different than when drawn inside (10-for-11); use in your multi-race wagers, for sure, but beware the odds going too low
4. Honeyquist	Was pleased to avoid Duncan Idaho in latest and responded with a win; likely to be winging it on the front end

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RACE 8 – Misty Bennett Pink Ribbon Stakes

2. Vahva	Best wins here; looks for stalk-and-pounce trip, and has won a Grade 1 and other graded events since last visit to CT
4. Mystic Lake	Likely to grab the early lead and go as far as she can and could be tough to reel in if getting loose; connex hope last two against overmatched rivals boost her confidence
3. Free Like a Girl	Defending champ in this event is just a cool veteran, with 21 wins and $2.5 million banked; appears an inch not as good as top pair

RACE 9 – Robert Hilton Memorial Stakes

6. Just a Fair Shake	Sneaky-good try when making a middle move to contention in latest, and the presence of a bunch of early speed here will force him into a one-run approach
7. Owen Almighty	Makes first start since a huge effort in the Kentucky Derby when the only runner involved in the early running to stay on late; might prefer if he’d had a start in the interim, though trainer Lynch wins at an 18% clip with similar breaks
8. Gunmetal	Improving sort caught a talented rival when second in latest and has tactical speed to get a good trip

RACING NOTES

• Trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. could have a big night. He has two runners, including 8-5 Mystic Lake, in the Pink Ribbon; Neoequos (7-2) in the Hilton Memorial; a quartet of runners headed by 5-2 Indy Bay in the Charles Town Oaks; and two, including two-time defending champ Skippylongstocking in the Charles Town Classic. Joseph won both the Oaks and the Classic last year…
• Trainer Jeff Runco likewise could have a good night, primarily in state-bred company. He has nine entered, including 4-5 favorite Duncan Idaho in the Last Enchantment…
• CT trainers and riders in the big races include Anthony Farrior and Arnaldo Bocachica, who team up with Faster Gator (6-1) in the Hilton Memorial, and Jeff Runco and Bocachica with Zip Start (20-1) in the Charles Town Oaks…

RACE 10 – G2 Charles Town Oaks

8. Secret Faith	Should use tactical speed to best advantage and brings her rider; bullring experience a plus
1. Indy Bay	If connex are right about timing, she ought to be sitting on go two races after a big effort
7. Vodka With a Twist	Two-back effort behind Kilwin seems to suggest sprinting on the main track is her game; a handful if so

RACE 11 – G2 Charles Town Classic

1. Banishing	Just missed a Grade 1 win when storming home late to miss by a neck in the Churchill Downs, a scene that could be repeated here — perhaps with a more positive end — with plenty of speed signed on
4. Skippylongstocking	Both his CT Classic wins came loose on the lead; he’s unlikely to have that scenario here; his Whitney perhaps better than it looks at first glance, as he threw down a wicked third quarter to grab the lead before emptying out
5. Komorebino Omoide	Last year’s show horse in this event should get the pace he wants

RACE 12 – Autumn Overnight Stakes

1. Moonlit Kiss	Ran on willingly in latest after uncharacteristically slow start cost her a reasonable shot in the Fancy Buckles; ability to run into the pace could serve her well here
4. Overnight Pow Wow	Probable speed of the speed makes third start off the bench and has crossed the wire first in five straight
6. Over the Bull	Should be running at the end

RACE 13 – Frank Gall Memorial Stakes

1. Runaldo	Got a good trip after bobbling break to win a race that’s produced three to run in the exacta from four to run back; possibly cycling back to the form he flashed in late ’24
5. Pascaline	Blinkers off after erratic stretch run and defeat in the Leavitt at 2-5; plenty of talent
9. Teachintherelease	Drawn outside other speed and could work out a good trip unless the pace heats up