CT: Intriguing group in allowance feature
Malibu Years, Professor Grace square off
The Biz
September 26, 2026
Malibu Years brings sharp recent form, while Professor Grace owns the strongest résumé in Saturday night’s featured seventh race at Charles Town, a $36,600 allowance/optional claiming event for fillies and mares going 6½ furlongs.
Malibu Years, the 5-2 second choice, has won three of her last four starts for trainer Bobby Barber and owners Horsin Around 3. The West Virginia-bred mare rebounded from an off-the-board finish in the Sadie Hawkins Stakes to dominate starter allowance rivals by 4¼ lengths Sept. 12. She also won over a wet track in July before defeating state-bred allowance company at seven furlongs nine days later.
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The five-year-old has been especially effective at Saturday’s distance, winning five of 17 attempts, and owns nine victories from 34 local starts. She draws the outside post with regular rider Larry Reynolds and will carry a field-high 126 pounds.
Morning-line favorite Professor Grace, 7-5, returns to more suitable company after finishing fourth in the $300,000 Pink Ribbon Stakes. Though no threat to runaway winner Foie Gras, she earned a career-best 79 Beyer Speed Figure and finished only a half-length behind graded stakes winner Mystic Lake for second.
That effort followed three consecutive in-the-money finishes, including a runner-up performance at the same level in June. Professor Grace also owns a decisive May victory over Malibu Years, beating her by five lengths at Saturday’s distance. Carlos Lopez rides for trainer Michael Sandoval.
City Taah provides an intriguing alternative at 10-1. She finished second at 37-1 odds at this level Aug. 21, 3¼ lengths ahead of Professor Grace, before finishing fifth behind Malibu Years in her latest. A return to her August form would make her competitive.
Hurricane Debbie, listed at 4-1, has not raced since November but makes her first start for leading trainer Anthony Farrior. Her best efforts have come on turf and synthetic surfaces, although she finished second in a Gulfstream Park dirt allowance in her most recent conventional-dirt appearance.
Breezey Bella could influence the pace after narrowly missing in her Charles Town debut at 4½ furlongs. The question is whether she can carry her speed an additional quarter-mile. Lucky Bop, Heart’s Compass, and Hurricane Debbie complete the seven-horse field.
Post time for race seven is scheduled for 10:02 p.m. EDT.
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