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

• RACES ON CARD: 9
• CARRYOVERS: Jackpot Pick 6, $76,948; Pick 5, $30,988 (mandatory payouts tonight)
• POST TIME: 7:00 p.m.

RACE 1

4. Heaven’s Got Fire	Middling effort in latest but has right to improve in second in Farrior barn; plenty of good efforts to run back to and plenty of speed to be engaged early if he can break alertly
3. Alpha Blue	Gives Farrior a chance at the exacta in first in barn (26%); speedster has apparently had some issues, given gaps in past performances, but has plenty of speed and has been facing better; could be tough if ready to run
7. The Commish	Lightly raced sort has right to improve and has been running decent races at this level

RACE 2

5. Cajunchito	Perfectly credible debut when running on for second despite troubled opening quarter-mile
7. Into Thin Air	Rider Belisario lands here rather than top choice; ran credibly versus much, much better and should be tough if running best race, but note he’s been off since May; gelded since latest
9. Hot Wings	Trainer Joy has a pair of runners returning from long breaks in this one and #7; decent tries on turf and dirt but another off several months

RACE 3

7. Snowy Juba Cat	May be able to work out a stalk-and-pounce trip; owns nine wins at the distance
8. Flying to Neptune	Likely speed of the speed arrives off an easy win
5. Audible the Play	Arrives off win in state-bred company

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RACE 4

7. Song and a Breeze	Improving sort graduated in latest, one of five winners from her two-back outing; figues to be speed of the speed
1. Wac Is Fast	Sneaky good outing in latest when sticking with it to very late stages; runner-up returned to win next
2. Tapwrit Warrior	We’ll draw a line through latest when cooked up close; returns to track where she garnered her diploma

RACE 5

8. Wiley Willard	Has run well in both local tries — draw a line through interim outing — and galloped in latest at 1-9; note that winner of first local outing, Falcon Blue, has run local win streak to three with Beyer figs above 80
3. No Brake Needed	A bit of a freshening after runner-up outing behind… wait for it… Falcon Blue; has been second or third in four of five versus similar
5. Renegade Rabbit	Second or third in five straight since graduating

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RACE 6

5. Our Miss Crossbow	Third off the bench after making a bit of a middle move in latest
2. Jeannette the Jet	Go-to rider Bocachica hops aboard after this one had a useful return to action when second in latest
3. Classy Bay	Speedy sort was cooked as part of a duel in latest but did outfinish speed rival

RACE 7

12. No Love for Juba	Should be tough if drawing in, but beware the odds getting too short: this one has been beaten at 3-5 and 4-5 in his last two and outside two posts are 10-for-113 at 7f this year (9%); has good tactical speed
8. Stormin Rocket	Just missed in last local try at this level; even outing latest
1. Juba’s Notion	Last was poor at long odds but prior outings fit here
5. Rocket Appeal	Speedy sort should be engaged from the jump

RACE 8

6. Ready to Rocknroll	Improving sort galloped in confidence-builder in latest when dropped into claiming company, now returns to allowance level; two-back second flattered by Heart’s Compass returning two races later to win next level
8. Gun Runnin’ Gal	Trainer Jones wins at a 14% clip with a positive ROI second off the claim; two-back outing solid
4. Neolithica	Plenty of talent but last couple aren’t good; may well win but expected short odds tough to stomach

RACE 9

3. All Aboard	Arrives in good form and could be speed of the speed; drawn outside fave and might have a chance to put that one in a bind
1. Caribbean Comedy	Deserving favorite might be too much for these on the drop, but inside draw complicates matters
2. Shared Authority	Gets blinkers on in first in Jackson barn (15% after trainer switch)