Yesterday and today: April 14 racing highlights

YESTERDAY’S NEWS: JUDGE CARR SPRINGS THE UPSET

There were some big names in Wednesday’s seventh at Charles Town, a $27,000 allowance contest going 6 1/2 furlongs.

It’s just that Judge Carr wasn’t one of them.

Regardless, the six-year-old Cal-bred registered a (very) minor upset in winning the contest and taking home the winner’s $16,200 share.  In so doing, the Mizzen Mast gelding defeated local stars Lucy’s Bob Boy, a millionaire who went off the 1.70-1 favorite, and 2015 Onion Juice winner Help a Brother.

It was the eleventh win of the Ronney Brown trainee’s career.

The result was a particular disappointment for Lucy’s Bob Boy, who, like Help a Brother, was making his season debut.  The Flatter gelding grabbed the early lead and took the field through a moderate opening quarter in 24.02 seconds and a half in 47.36, with the main pressure coming from 30-1 shot Dancing Roy.

But rounding the turn, Lucy’s Bob Boy and Arnaldo Bocachica were not able to widen their advantage even as Dancing Roy fell back; Judge Carr, on the far outside, arrived to apply the heat.  Once confronted, Lucy’s Bob Boy fell away readily; he finished last of six, though beaten just 3 1/2 lengths.

Judge Carr took a clear lead in the lane, but Help a Brother, who seemed done rounding the turn, found new life when getting clear in the lane and closed with a rush — but too late.  Judge Carr and Jose Montano held on to win by a neck over Help a Brother and Antonio Lopez; it was another 1 1/2 lengths back to Let’s Get Crackin in third.

Running time was 1:18.98, and Judge Carr paid $6.80 to win.

The win was one of three on the day for Montano.  The jockey also took the evening’s other allowance contest, a 4 1/2 furlong dash, with 6-5 favorite King of Anything, and a claiming event with Jax and Yoko.  All three were for trainer Ronney Brown.

ALSO…

• It was bombs away in the early going at Charles Town, as 21-1 Buffed took the lid-lifter, followed by 10-1 Kiss the V I Mass.  The former led a parade of longshots across the wire, as runner-up How Do I Know was 35-1 and show horse Touchy Zealy was 54-1.  The exacta in race one paid $522.80, and the triple was good for $4761.20.  The early double paid $354.40.
• Here’s the Call (4-5) is back.  The sophomore Here’s Zealous filly, making her first start in three months, reprised her maiden-breaking effort by galloping off to a long lead before coasting home in first while ridden out.  Under Edwin Gonzalez, the Pennsylvania-bred, facing other state-breds, reared up at the start, recovered to grab a five-length lead after a half-mile in 45.84 seconds, and coasted home to win by 2 1/4 lengths.  Running time for the six furlongs was 1:11.97.