CHARLES TOWN PICKS AND HORSES TO WATCH: MAY 7

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.

Carryovers: Jackpot Pick 6, $3,462

Check out our other handicapping here!

The early double this evening at Charles Town Races may prove chalky, but it’s still worth watching. It’ll bring the return to action of one of the most promising runners on the grounds, along with a well-regarded first-time starter.

In the lid-lifter – post time 7:00 p.m. EDT – the promising Jeff Runco trainee Muad’dib looks to run his record to five-for-five in a never-won-two allowance going seven furlongs. Regular pilot Arnaldo Bocachica will do the honors.

Muad’dib is a full brother to Late Night Pow Wow, the multiple graded stakes winner trained by Javier Contreras. Muad’dib kicked off his career with three wins by a combined 21 lengths as a three-year-old early in 2020. Away for a year after that third victory, he returned March 25 to post his fourth straight win, this time by a length-and-a-half.

Muad’dib has been odds on in all four of his starts and figures to be so again tonight. He’s 3-5 on the morning line.

Runco has two of the six runners – also including Out of Cents (4-1) – as does trainer Ronney Brown. Brown’s pair includes Shameless Risk (3-1) and Golden Answer (8-1). The former ran second against similar last out but was thrashed by the favorite in here two back.

The latter offers perhaps more intrigue. He broke his maiden by nine lengths two back and last out was a decent third after a moderately troubled trip in his first try against winners. With just three starts under his belt, he seems to be moving in the right direction.

Call it: 6-2-1-4

The second, a maiden special weight test for fillies and mares three and up going 4 ½ furlongs, brings the debut of Walk a Fine Line, who’s 6-5 on the morning line.

Walk a Fine Line is a daughter of Daredevil – sire of 2020 Preakness winner Swiss Skydiver – out of the Concern mare Silver Concern. Walk a Fine Line is a half-sister to five winners. She has a lengthy string of works preparing for her career bow here for owner-trainer Javier Contreras, who wins with first-timers 17% of the time.

The second choice here is the Mike Pearson-trained Got Any (8-5), who’s been second and third against similar in her last two – a fact which argues both for and against her. The good news is she’s proven she’s competitive against these sorts; the bad: she’s a six-year-old mare with 18 career starts still hunting a maiden win.

In fact, the runners in this race with demonstrated form either haven’t shown much or, like Got Any, have flashed a bit of talent but failed repeatedly to graduate. Singing Harmony (5-1), making her first start in Ronney Brown’s barn, is another in that same boat.

The other first-timer in here is Pooh’s Legend (10-1) for owner-trainer Marion Cuttino. This daughter of Amwaal is out of the 11-time winner Legendary Ridge, by Cactus Ridge, and is a half to two winners, including six-time winner Legendary’s First. She’s got a couple of works in the can down at Elloree, and Carlos Marrero will ride.

Will it be the first-timers or a veteran? It’s tough to take 6-5 on a newcomer, but if she has any talent, she should figure in the outcome here. We’ll try to beat her on top but keep her around in our picks.

Call it: 6-3-2-5