Charles Town picks and analysis: January 10, 2026

RACE 1

1-2-5

This contest appears to run through the top pair in Moonlit Notion and Pleasenthanku… We land on #1 Pleasenthanku (2-1), who’s more lightly raced and arrives off a win. With the inside draw, he’ll be on the engine early as he seeks his fifth win in seven career outings… Don’t love that two-back outing from #5 Moonlit Notion (9-5), who seemed to have Little Roo Roo put away at the top of the lane after pressing that rival but gave in late. That marked the fourth consecutive start in which he ceded ground in the lane, but on best he’s capable… #2 On the Come Up (5-1) has his moments and should be running at the end. He’s finished behind the top choice in last two… In the tables below, the “Rating” is not a speed figure but could be considered a rating of the horse’s accomplishments on dirt in the last year; click on the “+” sign in the Race column to see a horse’s trainer and jockey and their stats at Charles Town through last weekend…

RACE 2

5-3-7

Look for #3 Close Up (2-1) to get bet down closer to even money if not below; she’s been 9-5 and even in her last two against (possibly) better at Laurel and catches a tepid group here… Because we think she’ll get bet, though, we’re inclined to try to beat her in the top spot and everyone else looks more or less the same, so it’s a good race to take a swing… Longshot #5 Itza Kitty (15-1) ran six times on turf and synthetic without notable success before shifting into the Knudsen barn in October, when she ran a pair of poor local outings — but note that she was well bet in one of them (6-5), and the other has produced no fewer than five (!) next-out winners. Blinks come off for the first time, and if this gal can run to, say, her synthetic form, she has every right to contend…

RACE 3

7-4-5

#7 Deterrent (9-2) broke his maiden on the dirt but ran a bit of a stinker last out when well beaten against lifetime starter foes. He has the right to improve in his second in the Farrior barn, and in a race where many of the contenders want to come from off the pace, he should be able to use his tactical speed to best advantage… Late-running #4 Bad Lineage (5-1) doesn’t win much but often picks up a check (16 of 32 races in the money) and gave a sneaky good effort in latest when the only runner from the back half early to make an impact late… Kreiser trainee #5 Caughtandcollected (8-5) did not run well in his prior CT start when well beaten at 8-5 but did have excuses that day. Arrives with a couple of decent outings at Penn National…

RACE 4

2-6-7

Lightly race 7yo #2 Magical Surprise (8-5) lost this race four times last year, so we’d be a bit wary of the odds, but he keeps running good races, including a pair of runner-up finishes in his last two. Last-out winner Fortunate Son returned to score again for his third straight triumph… We’re inclined to give #6 The Hound (15-1) a pass on his latest when he ran into first-turn trouble; he produces occasional good efforts… We suspect Bocachica will take the initiative on #7 Mexicali Mike (9-5) and put him into the mix early; he arrives off a dominant front-running score versus lesser, but he may have to hustle to make the front, as inside horse #1 Sharpasadiamond (5-1) has early foot, too…

RACE 5

11-4-6-10

Veteran $300k earner #11 Bird King (4-1) arrives off a win and could be tough if drawing in and overcoming outer post…#4 Swift Tap (9-2) absolutely (and unexpectedly) laid waste to the field last time out, rallying from seventh to win going away. It was a dimension we hadn’t seen a ton of from him and speaks to a horse in good form now… #6 Yo Vinnie (7-2) beat similar two back and makes his third start off the bench, but do note that the riders from his last two — Santaella and Bocachica — land elsewhere, with Boca on #11 and Santaella on #4… A repeat of recent tries would make #10 Socially Awkward (5-2) a winner here, but you certainly have cause to question him, as he’s two pretty good starts removed from running for $25k and now lands here for a nickel in his first in the Haynes barn…

RACE 6

7-10-5

Top choice #7 Miss Impress (10-1) finds her easiest spot to date and first local try outside the special weight ranks. We’re not sure the cutback to 4 1/2 furlongs is ideal, but she may not need things to be ideal against this group… #10 Adamiscashingin (7-2) gets Lasix on and a nine-pound weight break from prior starts with bug boy Ebow in first in Farrior barn… First-timer #5 Upper Decky (5-1) is by turf G1 winner Slumber, who’s a quite modest sire, but shows a couple of solid works and is a half to a first-out winner; won’t have to be much to make an impact in this spot…

RACE 7

6-7-4

#6 Falcon Blue (9-5) ran his record to 4-for-4 at CT last out and has shown the ability to run the point or stalk-and-pounce… The speedy #7 Hammer (9-2) finished nearly four lengths behind our top choice last out, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. Breaking from the rail he had to go, and when company emerged to press him, he was forced to set a hot pace, including a sub-47 second half-mile, that left all three involved in the early running at the mercy of closers. The other two joining Hammer up top faded to eighth and ninth, so his effort to stay on was commendable, and he’s drawn better outside today. May be the one to offer value… If the pace heats up again, one who’ll be running late is WVBC Onion Juice winner #4 No Change (7-2), who’s looking for his 20th career victory…

RACE 8

5-8-6

Likely speed of the speed #5 Heaven’s Got Fire (8-5) looks for his second straight win in this spot for the Farrior-Boca team… #8 Cajun Joe (10-1) won’t be in front leaving the chute but should be passing rivals late and has run some pretty good recent races… #6 Imperial King (4-1) has been facing better…

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