Charles Town picks and analysis: February 28, 2026

RACE 1: 4-7-1-5

Sneaky good try from #5 Buster the Bully in latest when dueling inside a long way with the second choice (and that one faded to fourth) before being eased in the final 3/16 over a sloppy strip; can use early zip to good effect here on the drop into claiming ranks…#7 Direct to Heaven showed a bit of talent in first two outings and should appreciate easier group… #1 Camp Crystal Lake was never going to be able to make up ground after 1-9 Mr Mahomes walked on the front end but was easily best of the others…

RACE 2: 2-4-1-6

Top choice #2 Ready to Rocknroll has been ultra-competitive in tries against similar though hasn’t been able to get the money; should benefit here from perhaps being the only major contender who won’t be sending… #4 Mama Marge figures to go off the fave and galloped against similar last out; could be speed of the speed, but others unlikely to make it easy on her, including the inside and outside horses, with the latter getting blinkers on after showing speed and fading…#1 Ran the Red defeated similar two back and loves this trip (3-for-5) but has to work out a trip in a race where others appear speedier…

RACE 3: 5-2-3-6

#5 D Hopper returns to the track and distance where he broke his maiden in November and catches a manageable group; good early foot should enable him to work out either a front-running or stalk-and-pounce type of trip under Torrealba… #2 Swervin Mervyn returned from a lengthy vacation to break his maiden in latest and owns the right to improve… #3 McHale is clearly the most talented of these but is plummeting to the bottom here two races removed from a near-miss in allowance company; he wins on best but likely short odds make the questions about the drop all the more concerning…

RACE 4: 5-7-1-3

The pace of this contest should be lively, which may work to the advantage of the cutbacking #5 Indy Magic, who made a bit of a middle move before tiring last out in his first in three months; he’s likely to be outfooted early (and maybe by a lot) but if right should be running at the end… #7 Excellent Timing has blazing early speed but in two local tries has jetted to the lead before tiring, once badly and more recently while holding second; likely to have to work for the lead here… #1 Renegade Rabbit caught a pretty ideal setup two back behind a three-horse duel to win at this level and might just get something similar here…

RACE 5: 1-3-7-9

Top choice #1 Itzayana took heat all the way around last out, and she and winner Cairnhill shrugged off a challenge to sprint away from the rest; in a race light on speed, she could use hers to good effect again… #3 Frenchies Gold has been facing better and has some better outings to run back to… #7 Golden Charm likewise has seen better and isn’t far removed from efforts that win here…

RACE 6: 5-4-2-3

#5 Maddie Ten decisively beat similar last out for her second win in three, both with a similar stalk-and-pounce trip, which may work again tonight… #4 Flag Woman couldn’t withstand the rally of Maddie Ten in latest but sure did outrun 25-1 odds on the front end and is drawn outside the only other speed in here… That other speed is #2 Rezquia, who has talent and likely takes plenty of wagering play but really had no great excuses in latest when rebuffed by Flag Woman and fading thereafter…

RACE 7: 2-1-4-3

Trainer Stephen Murdock is 4-for-7 with horses first off the claim going from one turn at CT to two, which is the case for #2 Coal Country, who just missed in latest behind Amalfi Sunset and figures to be involved early… The pace could be lively, which may play to the benefit of morning line fave #1 Juba’s Parade, who’s been scuffling a bit lately while tilting against better… #4 Thelastsay ran a huge one last out, but that was at MNR and back in October…

RACE 8: 1-4-8-10

#1 Shady Munni switches into the Farrior barn for his third start off the bench …The speedy #4 Sir Mi Tolee beat lesser in latest on the front end… #8 Swift Tap enters in good form with four straight in-the-money finishes and last out led late before settling for second…

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