Veteran trainer James W. Casey and his eight-year-old gelding Greenway Court highlighted the Race for the Ribbon undercard at Charles Town.
When the G3 Charles Town Oaks drew more than a full gate, it looked like Shimmering Aspen would be left out. But four scratches later, all systems are go.
A bevy of up-and-coming stallion Fiber Sonde’s offspring are entered in Saturday’s stakes at Charles Town, with some strong contenders.
Riders based at Laurel Park swept the day’s seven stakes, a natural result, they said, of the many good riders in the room.
French-bred Canessar swept to a sharp score in today’s $100,000 Laurel Turf Cup in his first North American start.
Two-time stakes winner Shimmering Aspen will try graded company for the second time September 23 in the G3 Charles Town Oaks.
Unrideabull, well beaten last fall in his first try around two turns, carried his speed this time to win the Robert Leavitt Stakes at Charles Town.
“They do all the hard work and we just… look to get around there without getting hurt,” jock Forest Boyce said of trainers after a Maryland Pride day stakes win.
Eight-year-old Help a Brother and newcomer Prince of the Road may give patient trainer Lewis Craig, Jr. two WV Breeders Classics starters this October.
David Walters trainee Fear the Turtle is very good — sometimes. He’s won three times in blowout fashion — and missed the top three altogether in his other three starts.