CHARLES TOWN PICKS AND HORSES TO WATCH: APR. 9

Sleepy Eyes Todd
Sleepy Eyes Todd won the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic. Photo by Coady Photography.

Charles Town Races has an eight-race card on tap for this evening. Post time for the opener is 7:00 p.m., and we’ve got Charles Town picks.

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RACE NUMBERCONTENDERSCOMMENTS
Race 52-3-1-7They certainly have bet the favorite in here, #3 Choco Roco (3-5). He was favored two back and hasn’t been higher than 2.90-1 in three career starts. But he’s been fifth in his last two starts and not particularly competitive in either; you sure you want odds-on on a horse with that resume, even if it is Runco and Bocachica? Even if he’s a half to two stakes winners in T Rex Express and Partly Mocha? Nah. We’re inclined to give another chance to #2 Catfish (12-1) in here. This son of Declan’s Warrior didn’t show much on debut while running out wide throughout, but he should be tighter for it, and he certainly got some education. The added ground should help — his sire was at his best going seven-eighths — and look for an improved effort at an attractive price… #1 Twentytwenty (9-2) just missed going three turns last time out, so fitness shouldn’t be an issue in this two-turn event. But he was able to dole out very moderate fractions on the front end, and he shouldn’t be away quite so easily here… #7 Maddeye Moody (5-1) showed improved speed last out in his second career start…
Race 71-2-4-8A bunch of speedy sorts are signed on for this seven-furlong allowance affair, which makes you think a horse running into the pace might be a place to look. Let’s see if #1 C’est Mardi (9-2) can fit the bill. The Tiznow mare’s last couple are just OK, but both were going three turns with not much pace up front, and you have to believe that compromised her chances. The last time she tried a two-turn allowance here, she closed smartly for second in a 6 1/2-furlong race; she gets an added half-furlong for her best stride tonight… Owner Bob Cole and trainer Irving Velez have a pair signed on in #2 Lady Valentina (3-1) and 5 Boom Boom Gone (7-2). The guess here is one of ’em races and one of ’em doesn’t; both arrive off front-running efforts, the former just missing in a PEN allowance sprint, the other taking a bottom claimer locally by a pole… #4 Wedding Day Kitten (12-1) ran poorly last out but should find the pace scenario to her liking… With two Runco trainees entered, Bocachica picks #8 She Gives Me Fits (4-1), who’s tried unsuccessfully to knock down this condition eight times. She should be part of the early pace mix…

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