Charles Town Oaks draws a graded-caliber field
Saturday's rich $400,000
Town Oaks drew 10 entrants to run seven furlongs, and the group includes
some notable three-year-old fillies. BELLE OF THE HALL (Graeme Hall) tops the
field off her third-place run in the Test S. (G1) at Saratoga.
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The Tom Albertrani trainee brought an undefeated mark into the Test, breaking her maiden at Gulfstream Park by five lengths before adding an allowance and the Jostle S. to her line in her next two. In the Test, the chestnut miss suffered a bumpy start and then settled in the back of the field. She was still last entering the lane and only got going in midstretch, running three wide to take third under Ramon Dominguez. He'll be back aboard Saturday, and Belle of the Hall could return to the winner's circle in this spot. The Charles Town Oaks won't be a walkover for Belle of the Hall, as she'll have to take on the likes of Grade 3 scorer RICHIEGIRLGONEWILD (Wildcat Heir), Delaware Oaks (G2) third-placer DERWIN'S STAR (Wildcat Heir) and Grade 3-placers BEYONDALLBOUNDARYS (Saint Liam), C C'S PAL (Alex's Pal) and BRONX CITY GIRL (Yankee Gentleman). Richiegirlgonewild is looking to return to the form that saw her win the Old Hat S. (G3) earlier this season at Gulfstream Park. Since then, the Larry Rivelli charge has run off the board in three starts, though the latter two came on a synthetic track and turf. The bay miss could improve while moving back to a conventional dirt surface with regular rider Tim Thornton. Former claimer Derwin's Star led nearly every step of the way in the Delaware Oaks two back, but was just caught in the lane to finish third for trainer Steve Klesaris. The conditioner sent her to Woodbine for her next one, the Duchess S., and the chestnut miss never got on track, eventually finishing seventh. Similar to Richiegirlgonewild, Derwin's Star could really benefit from the return to dirt.
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Bronx City Girl is yet another claimer made good. The bay lass ran third in
the Genesis S. and fourth in the Mardi Gras S. earlier in the season before
taking a step down into the claiming ranks. Marty Wolfson took Bronx City Girl
from a May 27 test at Churchill Downs, and immediately sent her back against
stakes rivals, where she ran third in the Azalea S. (G3). The three-year-old
will be returning here off a more than two-month break. Stakes winner
Beyondallboundarys and C C's Pal both bring a recency edge into the Charles Town
Oaks off thirds in the August 28 Victory Ride S. (G3) and August 14 Monmouth
Oaks (G3), respectively.
Another in with a chance on Saturday is SOUTHERN FIREBALL (Southern Image),
who ran second in the Manhattan Beach S. two back but was placed first via
disqualification. She'll try to add yet another stakes win to her record under
the hot-riding Travis Dunkelberger.
Charles Town officials have carded three undercard stakes to go along with
the Charles Town Oaks. The black-type action will start in the 7TH race with the
$75,000
Ribbon S. for distaffers. Stakes victress DOUBLE ESPRESSO (Medaglia d'Oro)
is seeking a return to the winner's circle in the seven-furlong test against an
oversubscribed field of 14.
Juveniles will take center stage in the next two races, as 10 fillies line up
in the $100,000
Miss Shenandoah S. and nine colts and geldings enter the gate for the
$100,000
Charles Town Juvenile S. Last-out Colleen S. winner TWELVE PACK SHELLY
(Deputy Storm) will go for a hat trick of wins in the 4 1/2-furlong filly event
while taking on dominant Prairie Gold Lassie S. scorer BIG SWEETS (American
Champ). Mountaineer Juvenile hero MR. PROUD ALLEN (My Boy Adam) will attempt to
keep his record perfect while seeking stakes glory yet again in the
seven-furlong Charles Town Juvenile.
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