Charles Town news, notes, and picks: Aug. 22, 2026
The Biz
August 22, 2026
POST TIME: 7:00 p.m.
RACES ON CARD: 8
CARRYOVERS:
- Jackpot Pick 6, None
- Pick 5, NONE
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Lots of big doings at Charles Town this week, topped of course by Friday’s giant card. The card includes the Grade 2, $1 million Charles Town Classic and Grade 2, $750,000 Charles Town Oaks, along with the Misty Bennett Pink Ribbon for older fillies and mares and the Robert Hilton Memorial Stakes for three-year-olds.
It also highlights five stakes for West Virginia-breds.
Entries close Saturday, Aug. 22. There are a couple of storylines we may see:
- Charles Town Classic winners square off: the last three winners of the big one, Skippylongstocking (2023-2024) and Banishing (2025), meet once again. Can Skippy get the hat trick? Does Banishing join the ranks of two-time winners? Or is a different horse set to get it done?
- A Hilton winner in the Classic? No Robert Hilton Memorial Stakes winner has won the Charles Town Classic, but that’s a streak that could end Friday when last year’s Hilton victor, Barbadian Runner, is expected to post in the Classic…
- Speaking of which… locals could make noise. Charles Town-based trainers David Walters and Jeff Runco are expected to send out horses who could make some noise. Walters has sophomore filly At a Premium pointed to the Oaks; she’s 4-for-4 and on Aug. 19 posted a blazing half-mile move in 45 4/5 seconds. Runco’s Ryan’s Run is, likewise, 4-for-4 and figures to be a player in the Hilton…
- Walters brothers David and Henry, based at Laurel, could both have productive nights. Henry trains Barbadian Runner…
- The Jackpot Pick 6 wager will not be offered until Friday, when it is a mandatory payout wager…
As for the Aug. 22 card…
RACE 1
The Farrior trainee #6 Pistolier has a lot to recommend – two of three sibs won on debut, and he’s by super win-early sire Girvin – but the late debut at a low price are troubling.. The cutback and drop on #5 Danzante Bay entice… #2 In the Cloud just missed against similar…
RACE 2
#2 Worries Unfounded had a promising local unveiling when winning by two, while Farrior class-dropper #5 Maidstone is worth a look when dropping to the bottom… #4 Dark Fury has faced better and has made her last three starts on slop, which, her record suggests, she does not like; wake-up call?
RACE 3
Wide-open two-in-life contest… Look for #1 Additional Factor to try to go straight to the front and take ‘em all the way, which easily could happen… #3 Amama has the best figs but is also 1-for-13 and has lost at the level twice, so caution advised… The “all” button could be in reach with this crew…
RACE 4
The figs say #1 Symptomatic should win this lifetime claimer, and maybe she will, but her 4 wins-in-37 starts ledger advises caution… What if #4 Avril gets loose on the lead? I’m not convinced she’s not as good as these, and her only local starts (including a second) came against allowance company… #3 Lil Miss Honkytonk is the less sexy alternative to the favorite…
RACE 5
#5 Ridethelightning obviously will be the favorite (3-5 morning line) after facing much better in SoCal and attracting leading rider Bocachica, but it’s also her first in nearly a year and first at CT, which always makes us look around… #2 Person of Interest finished second against similar last out, which was her second straight on a wet track; last time she caught a fast track, she led a long way before fading late at the $12,500 level, and she should lead again today…
RACE 6
The best of these starter allowance runners looks to be #3 Juba’s Notion, who has beaten state-bred starter foes in three of four and likely is speed of the speed, but he might be pushed on the front end in this one… If so, who picks up the pieces? Likely #5 Nola Boss, who trounced similar last out, closing from sixth to win going away in a race from which two of three to run back have finished second next out… #1 Brother Conway could be rounding back into form… #6 Top Gun Tommy isn’t far removed from races that win here; can new trainer Scott Lane get him back on track?
RACE 7
In this featured one-turn allowance, every horse but one has only won when leading throughout; the only exception is #1 Love the Lad for Tim Grams, as the filly pressed the pace early in her two wins… We’re inclined to try to beat the favorite, #3 Truth and Justice, who ran a big one last out but going two turns; not convinced the shorter trip does her any favors off that outing… #6 Priority One gets the helpful outer draw in her first start since April; she had the look of a star in the making in her first two starts but surrendered readily in her third before two poor outings in stakes company; maybe time away will help…
RACE 8
We’re probably going to be inclined to try to beat the chalk in #7 Fake Strolling, who cuts back after a pair of decent two-turn tries to one turn here, which can be tricky… That points us towards the inside and outside horses. Inside horse #1 Lil Pegasus showed good speed first time out and stayed on to be clear of the rest while well beaten by the 6-5 fave, who returned to be second in allowance company; sure wish she hadn’t drawn the rail for the second straight time… Leaving from the far outside for the second straight time is #10 She’s Rambo, who led most of the trip last out before settling for second and was three clear of the rest, including three who are here…
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