Charles Town picks and analysis: August 22

by | Aug 22, 2020 | Breaking, Handicapping, West Virginia, WV Racing

Aaron's Tap

Photo by Allison Janezic.

Charles Town has an eight-race Saturday card. Post time is the normal 7:00 p.m. Good luck!

RACE 1

1-2-3-4

In this good one-turn allowance dash to open the card #1 Fancy Concho (2-1 morning line) will seek to overcome the inside draw for trainer Tim Grams as he goes in quest of his third win from five tries. #2 Fancy Castle (9-2) sports two wins in five tries for trainer John A. Casey but will certainly have to improve on last two outings. #3 Mywalktofreedom (9-5) won nicely two starts back but will have to rebound from dull outing in last for trainer John McKee. #4 Command the Cat (6-1) has already won twice in four starts this year for McKee and steps up from claimers with a chance here

RACE 2

6-4-3-2

#6 Bret’s Legacy (8-5) has been second four times in seven starts this year but looks poised to graduate in this one-turn maiden $5,000 claiming event for trainer Crystal Pickett. #4 Egregious (7-5) was second two starts back against similar and exits maiden special weight company for this favorable spot. #3 Maz’s Magic (5-1) was a good fourth last out and looks to complete rare New York-bred trifecta here. #2 What About Shorty (10-1) was third two starts back but could improve in this spot.

RACE 3

6-7-5-3

In this good allowance for older boys, #6 Penguin Power (3-5) makes first start since Confucius Say Stakes score and begins prepping for fall stakes campaign for trainer Jeff Runco. #7 Colonist (8-1) seeks first win in eight tries this year in local debut but has faced much tougher at other venues for trainer Alison Escobar. #5 Fiber And Emily (4-1) defeated allowance foes two starts back for trainer William Atkins and looms a factor in this spot. #3 Savagery (15-1) bested claimers last out for trainer Joan Reynolds and steps up here.

RACE 4

6-2-3-4

#6 Dakota Miss (8-1) seeks first win in three tries since the break and looms a contender at a generous price with favorable draw. #2 Gandhi’s Castle (4-5) exits allowance company and seeks first win since March at a short price for trainer Michael Sterling. #3 What You Own (6-1) was third two starts back and should be a factor here. #4 Best To Be Me (7-2) owns a win and two second-place finishes in last four and looms a solid contender.

How’d we do last week? Check out our picks and analysis here!

RACE 5

7-9-6-5

#7 Callinghercollins (7-2) makes career debut in this one-turn maiden special weight dash for fillies and mares for trainer Jeff Runco but looks set to graduate at first asking. #9 Trap City (3-1) was third and fifth in two maiden claiming outings at Laurel Park and could score in local debut for trainer Dove Houghton. #6 Tracing Gold (12-1) has been fourth twice in three career tries and could improve in this spot for trainer Doug Adams. #5 Coleraine (9-2) was third in lone local try versus similar and looms a threat in this wide open affair

RACE 6

1-4-6-7

In the lone three-turn event on the card, #1 Bacoli (9-2) exits starter allowance company and draws favorable rail for this $5,000 claiming event for trainer Ronney Brown. #4 The Wayne Factor (5-2) has been first and second in two tries since heading north from Florida and looms a serious threat here as the likely choice. #6 Awesome Fu (4-1) won two starts back for Brown and gives him chance at running one-two in this spot. #7 Cantakeitanymore (3-1) has been second five times in nine tries this year and figures to be on the ticket.

Who are leading the Top Midlantic trainer and jockey ranks?

RACE 7

3-7-5-8

#3 Gattolottacharm (4-1) has yet to win this year but has been improving for trainer Diana McClure. Likewise, #7 Diamond Train (2-1) has been second twice and third twice in eight winless outings this year but may have found an ideal spot here. #5 C V’s Campfire (9-2) has delivered three modest efforts since graduating before the break for Runco. #8 U S Funds (8-1) exits allowance company and seeks first win since garnering February diploma for Brown.

RACE 8

2-1-7-6

In this two-turn finale for $5,000 claimers, #2 Cent Comm (4-1) seeks first win in eight starts this year for trainer M.Joanna Boggs. #1 Sidewalk Prophet (3-1) makes third start and first local outing after facing tougher elsewhere. #7 Macanao (9-2) is usually on the board and has a right to improve in this spot. #6 Cerebral (5-2) already boasts 10 lifetime wins but makes long awaited seasonal debut here for trainer Stacey Viands of Parisian Diva fame.

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About The Author

Ted Black

Ted Black, a Maryland native, has covered racing — flat and harness, in West Virginia and in Maryland — since 1987 and is now in his fourth decade on the beat. He is president of the Maryland Racing Media Association. Follow him on twitter @tblacksomds1.

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