Edison Hatter — Twitter: @Edison_1999_
Most Likely Winner: Race 2- (2) CASTLE OF CAYLEE
Race 1: (3) BELLA FEMMINA would certainly prefer more distance, but she is making a significant drop in class and could upset the applecart here at 5-1. The new connections decided to try (6) ADDY’S LOVE in a stakes race last time out, which didn’t go well. Ignoring that effort, she is in good form at the moment and should also appreciate the turn back in distance from that last effort. (1) SPUNKY ALI CAT is best of the rest and should show good early speed from the rail.
Picks: 3-6-1
Race 2: (2) CASTLE OF CAYLEE is looking for her third win in a row and second straight for the new connections. She should get a very similar stalking trip to her last start against similar and is strictly the one to beat here. (5) MABEL is probably the only other runner in here with a chance of beating the top choice on paper, but she was a distanced third behind CASTLE OF CAYLEE in her most recent start. (1) KEYED UP is getting some much needed class relief and should have a chance of hitting the board against this bunch.
Picks: 2-5-1
Race 3: (1) ISHIHARA has been racing well in his brief career and should be competitive here; reuniting with leading rider Arnaldo Bocachica is only a bonus. (5) CHOCO ROCO comes off of a strong maiden win last time out, but would need to step up a bit here to have a chance. It should be noted that both top choices come from the Jeff Runco barn and Arlando Bocachica ISHIHARA to ride. (6) REMYS SHOWTIME should be the early controlling speed and be allowed to lope along in front for a while, but he gave up a big stretch lead two starts ago as an odds-on favorite against similar.
Picks: 1-5-6
Race 4: (5) TRUE CROSSING could be handled aggressively here in a race with little early pace- he won last time in wire-to-wire fashion against similar and could very well do the same here. (6) BYEBYE BYEBYE would need to take a step forward speed figure wise, but he should get a nice run stalking just off of the early leader. (3) CHARITABLE VISION also does some strong running late, but he might not have a whole lot of pace early here to run at.
Picks: 5-6-3
Race 5: (5) THUNDER THIGHS comes in off of tougher races at Laurel and could beat this soft field. He also makes his first start for the Anthony Farrior barn, which is hitting at 26% in such situations. (4) DOMS LADY showed good gate speed last time out and nearly took them all the way to break the maiden at this level. (2) FULLMOON BAY has gone from this level to MSW and now back down to this level. With top connections, she will take some money here in this field of underachievers.
Picks: 5-4-2
Race 6: (6) ORTINOLA takes a drop in class back to a more reasonable level for her ability. While she is 2-for-29 lifetime, she is only 0-for-1 at Charles Town and put in a respectable third place finish in that effort. (1) DEVILISH BEAUTY has only crossed the wire first in her first career start, but she has hit the board in 9-of-12 including several at this level and should be right in the mix again. (5) RAELYN’S STAR has won two in a row and takes on slightly tougher tonight; may be worth a look at a price.
Picks: 6-1-5
Race 7: (3) UNION SONG is in razor sharp form at Laurel at the moment and is strictly the one to beat here if she takes well to the Charles Town track in her debut here. Her stables mate, (2) MAE SAI PRINCESS, comes off of a layoff and tougher races at Laurel; she should be given a serious consideration in exotics in her Charles Town debut. (5) LITTLEBITALILY is yet another runner making her Charles Town debut; she was a sharp third at Penn National last time in her first start for the new connections and will look to keep it rolling here.
Picks: 3-2-5
Race 8: (4) ENVISION SUCCESS does take on slightly tougher tonight than last time out, but he was such an authoritative winner last time out over this trip that he is worth a look at 6-1. (7) MARYLANDER was off a little slow last time at this distance and disappointed as the favorite at Laurel, but he should appreciate the three-turn configuration tonight with his running style. (8) BELLOWS is best of the rest, has a strong record at this distance, and was a respectable second in his Charles Town debut last time out.
Picks: 4-7-8
