CT: Maggie’s Girl tops allowance feature
Double Spirit hopes to upset, run win streak to four
The Biz
February 20, 2026
The speedy Maggie’s Girl goes for the 15th win of her stellar career — and third in a row — in Friday’s $38,900 allowance feature at Charles Town Races. But to get it, she’ll need to handle Double Spirit, who arrives on a three-race heater of her own.
The 6 ½-furlong contest for fillies and mares four and up is the seventh on a solid eight-race program.
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Maggie’s Girl (7-5) looks like the one they’ll have to catch. The six-year-old has won 14 of 26 lifetime starts and 14 of 24 locally, and she exits a pair of front-running victories going the one-turn distance of 4 ½ furlongs. She’s a pure speed type who has wired or pressed her way to most of those victories, and that running style fits a 6½-furlong configuration that has been kind to early pace types. The concern is the layoff: she hasn’t raced since October and shows only one recentish work, that a three-furlong bullet Jan. 5.
Double Spirit (5-2) is the obvious danger. Since being stretched out to two turns, the four-year-old has won her last three starts at the track by a combined 24 ¾ lengths. Most recently she dominated a local allowance by Jan. 21 by breaking alertly and powering clear. She’s 2-for-2 at this distance and owns tactical speed that should see her pressing the favorite.
Serenade Me (3-1) could be the upsetter. She exits a career-best 81 BRISnet speed figure in a strong runner-up effort behind Laurel stakes winner Miss Harriett and consistently finishes with interest. Her closing punch makes her dangerous if the top pair hook up early.
Snappin Buttons (6-1) is the wildcard. She owns the fastest lifetime speed figure in the field and has faced tougher company in New York stakes and allowance races, but she hasn’t run in seven months and makes her first start for a new barn.
Moonlit Kiss and Heart’s Compass round out the lineup. Moonlit Kiss is a seven-time winner locally but exits a dull effort when fourth as favorite, while Heart’s Compass returns from a layoff after a closing upset win but has speed figures below par for this level.
Maggie’s Girl is likely the speed of the speed, and breaking outside the others with early foot should enable jockey Larry Reynolds to find the most advantageous spot. If Maggie’s Girl shakes loose, she’s the most likely winner. If she’s softened up, Double Spirit is poised to pounce — and Serenade Me will be waiting late if the pace melts down.
CHARLES TOWN RACE 7 FIELD
| Post | Horse | Owner | Trainer | Jockey | Odds |
| 1 | Double Spirit | Twin Oaks Bloodstock | Jill Spangler | Denis V. Araujo | 5/2 |
| 2 | Moonlit Kiss | Grams Racing Stable LLC | Timothy C. Grams | Christian Hiraldo | 10/1 |
| 3 | Heart’s Compass | Twin Oaks Bloodstock | Christopher M. Keller | Sunday Diaz Jr. | 15/1 |
| 4 | Serenade Me | Timothy Freitag | Ryan A. Gillespie | J. D. Acosta | 3/1 |
| 5 | Maggie’s Girl | Grams Racing Stable LLC | Timothy C. Grams | Larry C. Reynolds | 7/5 |
| 6 | Snappin Buttons | Next Level Stables | Juan C. Gotera | Michael Y. Pagan | 6/1 |
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