Inaugural Charles Town Classic Stakes Features Big Purse, Big Names
by Patricia Woo | Apr 13 2009
Though 50 horses were nominated, only 10 horses will be in the running for a share of the $500,000 guaranteed purse in our race of the week, the
Charles Town Classic Stakes. This inaugural 1 1/8-mile race will be held at Charles Town Races and Slots in West Virginia on Saturday, April 18, and offers a tiered incentive structure based on a horse's past performances: Grade 1 winners will have a chance at a $1M purse; Grade 2 winners will compete for a $750,000 purse; and Grade 3 winners will race for $600,000. As a result, the race has attracted many top older horses, such as Einstein, Commentator and Researcher.
As a 6-year-old, Einstein raised eyebrows and dropped jaws with his commanding win over top older horse Commentator in the Gr. 2 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs in November 2008. He kicked off his 2009 campaign with a third-place performance in the Donn Handicap in January, disadvantaged by having to break from the extreme outside post. But he proved his dominance once again - this time over the synthetic track at Santa Anita Park - in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 7. Trained by Helen Pitts and owned by Midnight Cry Stable, Einstein will be competing for the winner's share of a $1M purse as a Grade 1 winner.
Though he was beaten by Einstein and finished third in the Clark Handicap, and hasn't raced since that loss in November, 8-year-old Commentator has been posting impressive workout times in Florida in preparation for the Charles Town Classic. "He went along at an even pace, was nice and relaxed, and galloped out strong," trainer Nick Zito said after Commentator's workout on April 1. Jockey Joe Bravo, who was aboard for the work, was also pleased: "The further he went, the more he wanted to go... He thought he was running." In 2008, the Distorted Humor gelding won four of six starts, including his second Gr. 1 Whitney Handicap title in July, and will be looking to continue his trend of improving with age.
Though he will be racing for a $600,000 purse as a Grade 3 winner, local favorite Researcher has been lighting up the track at Charles Town Races and Slots in his recent preps. Trained by Jeff Runco, the now-5-year-old made headlines on the national stage with a win in the Gr. 3 Queens County Handicap in 2008. This year, he set a track record at Charles Town in March with his winning time of 1:49.76 over 1 1/8 miles in a 22-length allowance race romp; he has won six of his last 10 starts at Charles Town. His familiarity with the track will certainly be an advantage come race day, as the track is unusual with its three turns, and may be just the edge he needs to come away with another win.
Also expected to start are Gr. 2 Super Derby winner My Pal Charlie, Gr. 1 Hollywood Gold Cup champion Mast Track and Gr. 3 Stuyvesant Handicap winner Dry Martini.
Who will win the inaugural running of the Charles Town Classic Stakes?
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