Charles Town picks and analysis: March 7, 2026

RACE 1: 4-5-6-3

She’s raced mostly on turf with a recent synthetic try thrown in, but the most recent dirt outing for #4 Holy Brick — a fourth-place finish against better last September — would easily suffice in this tepid group… In a contest with several 20-race maidens, it makes sense to look at a first-timer as a potential contender, and #5 S S Island Fun could be live in here; she’s a half to a Grade 2 winner with a not-terrible work tab… Stablemate #6 S S Runs for Fun didn’t do much running in her debut after being antsy in the starting gate, but against these we’re inclined to give her another look; she gets 10-pound bug Arroyo Bueno up…

RACE 2: 6-4-5-2

Jungle Beast’s little brother #6 Jungle Boogie gave a pretty good account of himself last out when fighting on for second after going five wide on the far turn and holding off a rival, Buzz Bunny, who enjoyed a pretty ideal trip… If he’s right, #4 Charlienite should handle this group, but there are questions: it’ll be his first start since May ’25, and though he’s just two starts removed from beating special weight foes (and being DQed for a medication violation), trainer McKee drops him in for $7500 here; you’ll probably want him on your multis, but it’s worth trying to beat him on top… #5 Shook Me All Night has occasional good outings…

RACE 3: 7-5-6-1

#7 Don’t Blink didn’t run badly in latest when chasing runaway winner, a 3-10 class dropper, and has better to return to… #5 Flying to Neptune has plenty of early foot and likely will be on the lead with Don’t Blink pressing, but the presence of inside speed may complicate things… #6 Playing for Two likely will be a bit off it and trying to run ’em down…

RACE 4: 1-5-6-2

The lightly raced #1 Funding the Kids makes her season bow for trainer David Walters, and we’re hoping she can turn the tables on #6 Jlodiamond; she projects as the main speed here again and has more upside than that more experienced rival… #5 That’s Just Peachy has won two of three got away easy on the front end in latest, which seems unlikely in this contest… Veteran #6 Jlodiamond pressed Funding the Kids into defeat back in December but that just allowed Allformenoneforyou to pick up the pieces, as this one was beaten favorite…

RACE 5: 2-4-7-10

If everyone posts, the pace here should be lively, and one beneficiary figures to be #2 Ascendance, who closed nicely to win at this level two back but had no shot in latest when the top three ran one-two-three all the way around… Wouldn’t be surprised to see #4 Magic Mover first or second early and trying to take ’em as far as he can… Another horse with some speed but who projects more likely to sit off it a bit and try to pounce later is #7 Rick’swarmheart, who employed those tactics in an easy win at this level last out; notably, posts 7-10 are 0-for-34 going 1 1/16 miles so far this year at CT…

RACE 6: 2-4-6-1

Tremendous effort by #2 Mille Parole in her last one-turn dash, as rider lost his irons at the gate; he ultimately regained them but faced a yawning deficit by then, but this 4yo ran on well late and grabbed second before galloping out in front; the interim try around two turns was poor but appears to be beyond his scope right now, so we’re hoping the return to a dash distance does the trick… #4 Binyamin threw his head sideways just as the gates opened in his career bow, putting him behind the eight-ball; owns right to improve… #6 King Uni chased and tired just a bit late last time out, finishing just behind the top selection…

RACE 7: 6-1-5-3

This is an excellent group of horses, and the headliner likely is our second choice, #1 Petingas Twin, who’s been keeping rugged company with three straight starts in stakes/handicap company at LRL, including the General George in latest; that General George try was kinda bland, though, and while he should appreciate the class relief, we’re inclined to try to beat him… #6 Hammer has a ton of early speed and is drawn outside, which he seems to enjoy (3 wins and a second in his last four tries from the outside); new rider Nunez should be able to break and play it from there… #5 Falcon Blue wore down Hammer to win last out, but that time, he was outside his main rival, and now he’s inside; formful Joy trainee is 5-for-6 at CT…

RACE 8: 8-6-1-4

Top choice #8 Belle Cause has really had a tough time getting out of the gate in recent starts, and that’s deadly going 4 1/2 furlongs, but she’s got a bit of talent, and if she can the gate thing sorted, she has the right to contend at a price with new rider Victor Rodriguez up… #6 Mischievous Broad is likely to go favored after catching some tough rivals, including next-out Its Binn Too Long winner Allformenoneforyou last time out — but that was almost a year ago; trainer Farrior is 9-for-25 (36%) off long layoffs going 4 1/2 furlongs, and zippy works imply she’s ready… #1 No Direction was DQed from her win last out by a positive test; she broke sharply in that one, and she’ll need to do it again here breaking from the rail…

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