CT: Vodka With a Twist hopes to slurp up CT Oaks
Two Charles Town Oaks winners, Vahva and Mystic Lake, are set to square off in the Misty Bennett Pink Ribbon Stakes on Friday night.
Two races later, a competitive field of ten will contest the $750,000 Charles Town Oaks (GII) hoping to join those two as winners of the richest three-year-old filly sprint in North America. The Oaks highlights the undercard of Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races’ marquee night, featuring the $1,000,000 Charles Town Classic (GII). The card begins at 5 p.m. ET.
Vodka With a Twist is the 2/1 morning line favorite for the Oaks. The daughter of Thousand Words boasts a pair of Grade 1 placings, including a second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI). Trained by Phil D’Amato, she tried turf last out without much success, but prior to that ran admirably behind next-out Grade 1 winner Kilwin in the Leslie’s Lady at Churchill Down. Luis Saez will ride from post seven.
Saffie Joseph, Jr., who won the 2024 Oaks with the aforementioned Mystic Lake, has four entrants in this year’s edition. His top contender is Indy Bay, winner of the Jersey Girl Stakes at Saratoga. The Take Charge Indy filly finished third in the Victory Ride (GIII), also at Saratoga, and will have Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard from post one.
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“We take the blame for her last race,” said Joseph. “We brought her back a little too quickly after a big effort in the Jersey Girl. We’ve regrouped, and she’s doing well. The two turns is a new variable to deal with, but she should be right there.”
Joseph’s other three entrants are difficult to split on paper, and in some cases, on the racetrack. Andrea and Luvumorgan have traded wins in their last two races – the Game Face and the Azalea, both at Gulfstream Park. Paradise City, third in the Iowa Oaks at Prairie Meadows, breaks between them.
Secret Faith brings an impressive 8-for-10 lifetime record into the Oaks, while all but one of her wins have come in Louisiana-bred company. Rounding out the field are Not Too Late, Top, Zip Start, and Volleyballprincess.
The Charles Town Oaks is scheduled as Race 10, with a post time of 9:44 p.m. ET.
CHARLES TOWN OAKS ENTRIES
Post | Horse | Odds | Jockey | Trainer | Owner |
1 | Indy Bay | 5-2 | Ortiz I Jr | Joseph Saffie A Jr | C2 Racing Stable LLC |
2 | Not Too Late | 20-1 | Martinez F | St Lewis Uriah | Trin-Brook Stables Inc. |
3 | Top | 12-1 | De La Cruz F | Elliott Michelle L | Machmer Hall Thoroughbreds |
4 | Andrea | 12-1 | Ortiz J L | Joseph Saffie A Jr | Mark Corrado and G. Chris Coleman |
5 | Paradise City | 20-1 | Castellano J J | Joseph Saffie A Jr | C2 Racing Stable LLC, Kuehne Racing, Shi |
6 | Luvumorgan | 8-1 | Gaffalione T | Joseph Saffie A Jr | Shining Stables LLC, Steven Friedfertig |
7 | Vodka With a Twist | 2-1 | Saez L | D’Amato Philip | BlackRidge Stables LLC, Medallion Racing |
8 | Secret Faith | 4-1 | McMahon C | Gelner Jayde J | Norman Stables LLC |
9 | Zip Start | 20-1 | Bocachica A | Runco Jeff C | Coleswood Farm, Inc. |
10 | Volleyballprincess | 15-1 | NO RIDER | Linder Louis Jr | Bran Jam Stable and David W. Clark |
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