Edison Hatter — Twitter: @Edison_1999_
Most Likely Winner: Race 1- (6) MAUD’DIB
Race 1: (6) MAUD’DIB went three for three last spring before taking a year off; he came back just over a month ago and scored convincingly to move his record to 4-for-4 lifetime. He simply appears to be better than this field and is the most likely winner of the night as he looks to make it a perfect 5-for-5. (1) SHAMELESS RISK has been racing well and is best of the rest by quite a gap, but unfortunately he runs into a monster here in the form of the top pick. (2) GOLDEN ANSWER got his first taste against winners last time out and will look to build off of that respectable effort here.
Picks: 6-1-2
Race 2: (5) GOT ANY is an 0-for-18 maiden, but she’s been improving and showing a new dimension in her recent races- this could finally be the field she needs to breaks her maiden. (3) WALK A FINE LINE starts for a barn with success in the past with first time starters and she shows a good, consistent work tab in preparation for tonight’s debut. Throwing a dart at a dartboard would probably be the best way to select a third place finisher here, but let’s try (7) FIFTY GRAY SHADES, who has caused herself some problems in her first few races, but maybe tonight is the night she’ll finally figure out what this whole racing thing is about.
Picks: 5-3-7
Race 3: (7) DEPUTY JAMES could be a part of the early pace scenario is a pretty paceless race overall- he gets slight class relief and is competitive on paper, but the concern is that he is only 1-for-19 lifetime and hasn’t won in 18 months. (1) JACKLIGHTNING and (2) RUM RUNNER RED come out of the same common race and were separated by a neck at the finish-they both should be coming with strong late runs and they should both be closer to the early pace with the good post draws here. Slight edge between the two given to the lighter raced JACKLIGHTNING.
Picks: 7-1-2
Race 4: (10) IHEARUKNOCKIN towers over this field on paper and would likely be an even shorter priced favorite if not for the post draw. Nonetheless, his talent should leave him with no problem overcoming the wide post draw to get the job done here. If anyone upsets the favorite, it’s likely the horse right to the inside, (9) BOUNDTOBEGOOD, who has been improving recently and is in a good form cycle right now. (5) PRINCE OF WINDSOR has a strong record at the distance and will look to rebound from a subpar effort last time out.
Picks: 10-9-5
Race 5: (8) TYRY TYRANNOSAURUS was solid on the stretch out last time out off of the layoff- he is capable of taking another step forward here in his second start off the bench to break the maiden. (10) NO CASH REFUNDS just missed last time out and now stretches out to two turns for the first time- he could be a serious player if he takes well to the distance and can work out a trip from the wide draw. (1) RETURN TO ME returns off of a layoff, but draws well and should be right in the mix if he puts forward an effort similar to his most recent few.
Picks: 8-10-1
Race 6: (7) COOL MO was no match for allowance company last time out, but gets much needed class relief here and should get back to the winner’s circle with a repeat of her effort two back. (8) MARY’S JEWEL looks the strongest on paper, but had some serious gate issues last time out at Pimlico and returns to Charles Town for only the second time in her career- while she could definitely win here, I’ll look elsewhere if she goes off as an odds-on favorite as expected. (5) TALKTHETALK got a nice confidence boosting win last time out for the new barn and will look to keep that momentum rolling here.
Picks: 7-8-5
Race 7: (7) SKI BUNNY comes into Charles Town for a top barn off of some tough allowance races elsewhere- if she takes well to the Charles Town surface, she will be very tough to beat. (4) WEDDING DAY KITTEN was second last time out against many of the same foes she will face here- 10-1 on the morning line seems a little generous here as she looks to prove last time was no fluke. (2) MOMA TIGER is a lightly raced filly with plenty of upside.
Picks: 7-4-2
Race 8: (3) TANELEER should show speed on the stretch out and could surprise at a number if allowed to dictate things on the front end. (10) ENGLISH HONOR will look to back up a strong maiden win here tonight, but will have to work out a trip from the outside post draw. (9) ADIOS SEE YA is the other logical choice here, but hasn’t seem to care too much for the distance in the past.
Picks: 3-10-9
