Charles Town picks and analysis: July 11, 2026

RACE 1: 2-4-7-3

#2 Trouble and Strife lived up her name when shut off near the quarter pole last out, but she regrouped to run on nicely for show dough; on the improve… The likely game plan for #4 United Forever, who gets the 7-pound bug up, is to send, which worked like a charm two back; she didn’t get away well last out and mailed it in thereafter, but if she’s able to engage early, well, there’s not much speed in here, so… #7 Close Up found starter company too tough, so the drop back to this level should help…

RACE 2: 6-4-1-3

#6 Mitoleisdynamite couldn’t contain Snitch Dorada last out, but that runner was 1-9, and this one ran on for the place; speedy sort well drawn outside, and a repeat of latest should be enough… #4 Shessweetlikecandy exits the same race and was a willing third despite a troubled trip… #1 Gazoza has higher upside than most in here but a tough assignment here, as she’s dropping from two-turn races where she showed speed and faltered but is leaving from the rail; the break is key…

RACE 3: 6-9-7-8

#6 She’s Rambo has a zippy worktab leading up to her debut in this spot; sire Candygram’s offspring usually need a race or two to hit their strides, but this one’s half-sibling won at second asking and went on to be a seven-time winner; could offer value… #9 Contra Costa debuts for the powerful Runco barn, gets leading rider Bocachica up, and arrives with a couple of fast works locally, but, gee, this is some turfy breeding, and this one was targeted for other destinations initially, beginning her prep work at Turfway, so not sure how crazy we want to go… #7 Bull’s Gold is a Bullsbay filly out of two-time Cavada winner Original Gold and is a half to a debut winner…

RACE 4: 9-8-7-5

#9 Talented Lord drops back into nickel company after winning at the $15,000 level last time; removal of blinks for latest seems to have helped… #8 Classy Bay saw a three-race win streak snapped in latest against allowance foes and will be a strong favorite but will need her running shoes on dialing back from two turns to one; interesting that Brown enters him for the bottom of the claiming range… #7 Remy’s Hotshot makes her third start off the bench…

RACE 5: 8-4-6-2

#8 Namaste makes her debut for solid trainer David Walters and is a half to two first-out winners; solid worktab… #4 Lisola is another first-timer, debuting for Kristy Gazzier, and this one’s by win-early sire Great Notion… #6 Captured in Time got some time off after a series of middling tries and ran pretty well in two prior one-turn tries…

RACE 6: 6-2-7-8

#6 Cademan improved last time out in his second off the bench and might find the two-turn, 6 1/2-furlong trip very much to his liking; best efforts contend, and the price may be appealing… #2 Sokota has been odds-on in three straight, winning two, and might be speed of the speed here… #7 Ragtime Scribble mounted a middle move in latest but ran into traffic trouble on the far turn and, regardless, was never going to beat the formful Vex, who jumped into allowance company and repeated….

RACE 7: 5-4-7-6

Ultra-speedy #5 Heaven Street dusted similar last out for his fifth win of the year and should control this one from the jump… #4 Masterwork has a win and two seconds in his last three at this level but will have to turn the tables on our top selection, who beat him by three lengths last out… #7 Coronation Time took a pummeling last time at this level but bounced back nicely to win a first allowance last out that he really had to earn…

RACE 8: 8-6-3-5

#8 S S Island Fun gave an improved account of herself last out when just missing the win in a three-horse photo; show horse Sable came back to graduate… #6 Weather Beater shifts into the Farrior barn after showing blazing speed and then stopping in earlier starts; the one-turn dash should hit her between the eyes, but we’re inclined to give her one local start before hopping aboard the bandwagon… #3 New York Lights might be headed back towards better form and has three runner-up finishes at the trip…

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