Charles Town picks and analysis: June 27

Photo by Allison Janezic.

RACE 1

2-1-6

#2 Becoming Machen (3-1) has won twice in five starts this year for trainer Doug Adams and will be among the favorites in this two-turn event for $5,000 claimers. #1 Quick Energy (9-5) has finished third twice in three starts for trainer Keith Brown and #6 Mo Cuishle (5-2) rebounded from a DNF effort to finish third last out and has every right to improve.

RACE 2

2-3-5

#2 Star Of Night (1-1) has won twice in three starts this year and was very sharp second to Bridging The Gap in her most recent outing for trainer Jeff Runco and looks poised to prevail as the odds-on choice in this allowance affair. Another Runco entrant, #5 Power Forward (5-1), has won twice in four starts this year and scored on May 16. Trainer Javier Contreras will send out #3 Commcat (8-1) and #6 Dubai Was Lit (9-2), either of which could split an all-Runco exacta.

RACE 3

1-8-3

#1 Lil Sweetheart (7-2) heads into this three-turn event for $5,000 claimers for owner-breeder-trainer Tim Collins and could upset morning line choice #8 Imagoodchatterbug (5-2), who has been second once and third once in two starts this year, and #3 Charitable Time (3-1) who will look to rebound from a seventh-place effort against starter allowance foes last out.

RACE 4

3-4-2-8

#5 Fastdriven (3-1) gets the nod in this maiden special weight event, having been second twice and third once in three starts for trainer Ralph Comi, Jr. and owner Ray Comi. #4 Clyclobomb (7-2) has been third once and fourth once in two tries for trainer John Carlisle and has every right to prevail, while Runco trainee #7 Grandpa Louie (4-1) seeks his first win in five local tries after spending the early part of his career in Southern California.

RACE 5

2-5-6

#2 Bucked Tooth (7-5) looms the likely odds-on choice for trainer Kevin Patterson in his local debut after winning twice in five starts at Laurel Park, where he has made 13 of his 14 career outings. #6 Bearcat Kitten (7-2) won his most recent outing on Feb. 28 and owns an 11-11-10 slate from 50 career tries. #5 Call Me Cowboy (10-1) scratched out of a race on Friday night to stay in this spot in his first outing since Feb. 14 at Tampa Bay. He won last summer over the CT strip and once recorded three straight wins here in 2018.

RACE 6

4-1-2

Trainer Tim Grams could run one-two in this one-turn maiden special weight. #4 Fancy Concho (7-2) finished second in his career debut on June 5, while #1 Tweet This (4-1) has been third once in two starts this year and third three times in six career outings. Trainer Anthony Farrior will send over #2 Evan’s Chile (8-5) from Laurel for his seasonal debut after running second in his career debut at Pimlioc and fifth in his most recent outing one year ago at Laurel.

RACE 7

1-9-2

In another two-turn allowance for fillies and mares, #1 Bridging the Gap (7-2) looms the choice following a good fourth-place effort in the Original Gold after edging Star Of Night in an earlier allowance for owner-trainer John McKee. Dale Capuano sends #9 Ravenel from Laurel (9-2) while Runco trainees #4 Ocean Lilly (5-1) and #2 She Figures (6-1) will seek to prevail at this level.

RACE 8

3-8-9

#3 Tipsy Time (2-1) has been second in each of her last two starts for trainer Ronney Brown and rates the one to beat in this two-turn event for $5,000 claimers. #8 Cold Hearted Gal (8-5) was third in her most recent outing for owner-trainer Kevin Joy and has been third three times in six career outings. #9 Magic Pic (8-1) is seeking to hit the board for the first time in five tries for trainer David Walters but should round out the triple in this event.

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