G1, Charles Town Classic: Can Nomads successfully defend his title?

Pennsylvania (PA) Saturday, April 10, 2021 — 2:30:00 PM EST | Race ID : 2615210
Charles Town Classic
Grade I / Group 1*CPU – Purse : $750,000
Restricted to 4 Year Olds and Older
9 Furlongs | ~1800 Meters | One Mile and and One Eighth	Fast Dirt

We are heading out to Pennsylvania this weekend for the running of the G1, Charles Town Classic which is restricted to 4 year olds and older horses.  The race has drawn a full field of fourteen horses this year which contains a host of prior Graded winners.  These nice looking horses will be traveling across 9 furlongs on what will be listed a Fast Dirt track for Saturday’s race. Nomads was the winner here last year and has returned to attempt to defend his title against a group of very formidable challengers that look to spoil his efforts.  The odds makers have posted their morning line and post positions have been drawn.  Let us now take a preview of the horses that will be running in this year’s Charles Town Classic.

1

INTO BEING BAD

KY

4M

simsters1

D Raymond

17

5

65%

$1,151,181

128.00

23/1

Drawing the inside gate is this four year old Bay Colt who is a scratch bred (INTO MISCHIEF x UNBRIDLED x ALYDAR) who has seen his share of struggles in his recent races.  He last hit the boards back in July when he ran second in the G1, Eddie Haskell Stakes.  His last trip to the track came on 03/09/2021 in Florida where his owner dropped him down in Class and distance to run 7 furlongs in a $43800 NW1n Allowance.  This did not spark any interest for this horse when he crossed the wire back in fifth place.  For Saturday’s race the owner has placed the call to jockey, D Raymond from New York to come in and take the ride up top.  The jockey last paired up with this horse when they ran together in the G1, Breeders’ Bowl Dirt Mile in Kentucky.  They did not have a good trip together that day, but will be seeking to show much improvement here in Pennsylvania.  They will be headed out at post time representing the GR Stimsters residency.

2

INDULGENT MIX

KY

5M

mtkplaz

T Kelly

8

5

75%

$352,428

72.00

17/1

Next up we have this five year old Bay Horse sired by Keen Ice that has been on a recent Hot Streak winning his four most recent trips to the track.  He had been doing very well in his Allowance races for his owner and it was decided to move this horse up in Class for his most recent trip to the track.  He last ran on 01/30/2021 going 9 furlongs in California in the G2, The Spurs Handicap.  He found himself in third at the third call and when he hit the top of the stretch he was asked for a little extra effort and he delivered.  He went on to get up for the win by a quarter.  Riding in the saddle for that race was jockey, T Kelly who is a jockey from here in Pennsylvania.  He will again get the call to ride up top in Saturday’s race.  This familiar pairing will be headed out to their gate draw representing the Blazing Saddles residency.

3

TRUTHWAYTHELIFE

KY

5M

billzpaid2

B Alexander II

21

6

62%

$365,886

70.00

7/1

This is a five year old Grey Horse that was sired by Arrogate that has six career wins to his credit.  Back in October he got up to win the G3, The Bull Durham in Ontario over a distance of 9 furlongs.  He followed that up with a trip in Japan in November in the G1, The Japan Dirt Cup of which he was attempting a gate to wire trip and ran out of gas in his stretch run and came in sixth.  He rebounded in his most recent outing when he last ran on 02/27/2021 in Louisianna going 9 furlongs in the G2, Saints Handicap.  He found his way back to the boards in a hot contest of which he finished third just three quarters off.  The owner has placed the call to Florida to find jockey, B Alexander II available to take to the irons for this race.  He will be seeking to keep this horses attention and draw him close to the front in this race.  They will saddle up together in the paddock representing the GR Simsters residency.

4

KELLYBUNKPORT

KY

5M

megabps

M Kelly

20

6

60%

$831,630

68.50

15/1

This five year old Light Grey Horse was sired by Tapit and he has been known to run on both the dirt and turf surfaces.  Last season in August he ran 9 furlongs in Indiana in the G2, Insulin Cap of which he got up for win.  Since that race we have seen some struggles and decreased speed ratings.  But in his most recent trip to the track he tried another trip on the turf.  He ran on 02/17/2021 in California going 9 furlongs in a $48700 NW2y Allowance.  By the third call he had taken control of this race and went on to win by four and a quarter lengths.  The owner is giving his horse another opportunity after that win to prove himself once again.  He will have jockey, M Kelly from Delaware in the saddle for this trip.  The jockey is going to need to pullout some extra effort from this horse to keep him in a competitive position when they break from their gate representing the Blazing Saddles residency.

5

LADY CHROME

KY

4F

doaana

B Doherty

14

4

43%

$320,315

46.00

20/1

Here we have a four year old Bay Filly sired by California Chrome who will be the lone filly in this field of fourteen.  Back in October she was second in the G1, The Evil Prep IV.  She then had a few disappointing races of which she failed to hit the boards.  In her most recent trip to the track she ran in Florida going 7 furlongs in the G2, The Davey Jones Handicap of which she was trying to close down the stretch but came up short when she crossed the wire in third.  Hitting the boards again has given this owner the confidence to bring out his filly to face the boys here in Pennsylvania.  He has called in jockey, B Doherty who will be flying in from India to take the mount for this trip.  They will be heading out in the post parade on Saturday representing the Empire State Racing residency.

6

GLORY TO GOD

KY

5M

cadet

F Gossett

21

6

67%

$416,295

60.00

9/1

This is a five year old Bay Horse was sired by War Front and he has been good to his owner in his most recent trips to the track.  In November he won a Listed Stakes in Massachusetts and then moved up in Class to run in Florida this past January in the G3, Willing And Able Stakes where he finished up in third.  His most recent trip to the tack came on 02/27/2021 when he ran 9 furlongs in Louisiana in the G2, Saints Handicap.  He cruised in second place the entire race and that is where he finished up at the wire.  The owner is calling in jockey, F Gossett from California to come in and take to the saddle with his horse.  The jockey will be looking to keep this horse on the boards where he has been in his last three outings.  This pair will be headed out of the paddock on Saturday representing the South Africa Racing Association residency.

7

SMART EMPIRE

KY

6M

dkstables16

T Small

22

7

64%

$2,403,821

96.00

12/1

Here we have a six year old Bay Horse who is a scratch bred (EMPIRE MAKER x SMART STRIKE x SADLER’S WELLS) who has recently been hit or miss in his races.  Thus we will have to see how he shows up here in Pennsylvania on Saturday.  He has not raced since last November and thus will be coming in well rested.  That race was on 11/28/2020 when he went 9 furlongs in Japan in the G1, The Japan Dirt Cup.  It would be a very disappointing day for this horse when he crossed the wire last and was struggling to keep up with the field.  In the saddle for that trip was jockey, T Small from Germany and he will get the call again to ride up top with this horse in Saturday’s race.  Both horse and jockey will be looking for some redemption here in the Charles Town Classic and the jockey will have to bring a snappy whip with him and attempt to get this horse’s attention when they turn for home and get him to fire with a little more effort.  They will be headed out for the call of the race to the roars of a cheering crowd.

8

EMBERWING

ENG

5M

steller

R Dowell

22

6

68%

$546,036

96.00

6/1

Here we come to this five year old Bay Horse who is a scratch bred (FRANKEL (GB) x DYNAFORMER x SEATTLE SLEW).  He has found his way to earn a GP badge but has yet to find his first Graded win and trip to the winners circle at this level.  Back in November he won a Listed Stakes in Washington and then was sent to run in Japan on a short rest in the G1, The Japan Dirt Cup of which he finished fourth.  His owner then decided to take him back out for his most recent race that came on 02/20/2021 in Florida of which he traveled 9.5 furlongs in the G2, The Jai Alai Park Handicap.  He had a nice run there as he made an attempt at a gate to wire trip.  He was caught late in the stretch and finished up in second with a 116 speed rating.  This horse has run most of his best races when he is at or near the front of the field.  This is where I am sure jockey, R Dowell from New South Wales will try to place him when they break from their gate representing the GR Simsters residency.

9

STREET STREAMER

KY

4M

upperhand2

Q Cassell

14

7

79%

$523,600

92.00

15/1

This is a four year old Bay Colt who is a scratch bred (STREET SENSE x SEEKING THE GOLD x UNBRIDLED) that in fourteen starts has picked up seven trips to the winners circle.  He is coming off two straight wins and is looking to make it three in a row.  He ran on 01/09/2021 in New Mexico in a Listed Stakes, Leave The Reef Dirt Route.  He wasted no time putting away this field with a gate to wire trip to win by three at the wire.  His most recent outing came on 02/27/2021 in Louisiana when he ran 9 furlongs in the G2, Saints Handicap.  Again this front runner made a gate to wire trip to pick up the win by a half with a 116 speed rating.  The odds makers have been showing this horse no respect in their morning line and once again we see him going off at double digit odds.  The owner wishes to prove them wrong once again as he calls in jockey, Q Cassell from Dubai to take the mount with his colt.  They will be headed out of the paddock together representing the GR Simsters residency.

10

NOMADS

KY

6M

dc1

D Carlson

27

8

52%

$2,730,215

320.00

7/1

This six year old Bay Horse is a scratch bred (CANDY RIDE x STORM CAT x DYNAFORMER) who had a very nice season last year who picked up four Graded wins.  One of those wins was here in Pennsylvania in the Charles Town Classic.  He is back to defend his title and see if he can win this race two years in a row.  He has two races in this 2021 season and both trips have been met with disappointment.  His most recent outing was on 02/27/2021 in Louisiana in the G2, Saints Handicap.  He was trying to make a good closing effort, but he could only manage a fifth place finish.  In the saddle for that race was his regular jockey, D Carlson who is a local jockey here in Pennsylvania.  They team up again once more to go for a repeat performance of last year’s race together in the Charles Town Classic.  They will saddle up in the paddock and head out to their gate draw representing the Universal Racing Club residency.

11

PASS THE SHAMROCK

IRE

5G

fairhaven7

K Banner

20

11

75%

$668,344

120.00

5/1

This 5 year old Bay Gelding was sired by Raven’s Pass and last season he won several Listed Stakes and in two of those races he ran a 121 speed rating.  He has been doing well for his owner but has yet to find a Graded win which has thus far eluded him.  He made a good run for it when he last ran on 02/13/2021 in Japan in the G1, The February Stakes where he traveled 9 furlongs with a 117 speed rating.  In that race he cruised the track in second place the entire trip and that is where he finished at the wire.  In that race he had jockey, K Banner who is from here in Pennsylvania in the saddle and this jockey will again get the call to ride up top here in the Charles Town Classic.  They will be looking for another good trip together when they head out to their gate draw representing the GR Simsters residency.

12

SNEAKY SPIRIT LV

KY

5G

aussiebiz2

M Zeus

22

6

68%

$2,227,540

128.00

9/1

Next out we have this five year old Roan Gelding who is a scratch bred (GHOSTZAPPER x HALO x GRAUSTARK) who back in May of last year won in Delaware when he ran in the G2, New Hampshire Handicap to pick up a win going gate to wire.  He has had a few struggles and failed attempts to hit the boards in his last few races and has only one start this 2021 season.  That came on 01/23/2021 when he ran in Florida going 9 furlongs in the G1, The Glenn Kegasus Tradition Killer.  This horse who tends to like being at or near the front got a bad break from the far outside gate and could never find his way towards the front where he likes to run.  This was a very disappointing outing for him, so he will be looking for a lot of redemption in this race to prove he still has what it takes to hit those boards.  For this race he will again get jockey, M Zeus from Spain who is flying in to take the ride up top.  They get another gate draw that is further out than they like to be and thus this jockey will need to work on getting this horse out quick and find him a good spot of which to run.  They will be headed out at post time representing the Only Stayers residency.

13

COLD WAR VIC

KY

5G

thethumb

E Banner

14

5

71%

$172,720

49.00

15/1

This five year old Bay Gelding was sired by War Front who has been running very well for his owner and he has not missed hitting the boards since this time last year in 2020.  This horse has shown he can run upfront, but in his most recent races he has been closing later in his races.  He has two starts this season, first running in Dubai on 01/15/2021 where he went 10 furlongs in the G3, The Winter In Dubai of which he finished third.  His most recent trip to the track came on 02/20/2021 where again he ran in Dubai going 10 furlongs in the G2, The Khartoum Challenge III.  He closed late in this race and weaved his way into another third place finish.  He is making a long travel to get here for this race on Saturday but seems to be settled in nicely over at the barns.  He will get the services of jockey, E Banner from California for this trip as they try to keep this horses record in hitting the boards intact.  This pair will be heading out to their post draw for this race representing the GR Simsters residency.

14

CAIRO BLIZZARD

KY

5M

daitro

N Armstrong

19

8

74%

$4,679,830

224.25

7/1

Breaking from the far outside gate will be this five year old Bay Horse sired by American Pharoah who in March of 2020 won the G1, Sand Castle Classic.  He only has one start this season and that came on 02/20/2021 when he went 9.5 furlongs in Florida in the G2, The Jai Alai Park Handicap.  There would be none better that day when he got up with a nice closing effort for the win by one and three quarters and a 118 speed rating.  He needs to bring that nice effort and speed with him to this race as this is a tight field of quality horses.  Helping to guide him for this trip will be jockey, N Armstrong from Indiana.  They have paired together in the past, so this jockey should know how this horse likes to run.  He will need to find a good spot for this horse out of the gate and a clear path in his stretch run to compete for the wire in this race when they head out representing the All-Stars Racing residency.

Good luck to all owners and horses!

Skippy’s Watch List

9-Street Streamer:  This horse gets the snub in the morning line.  Is it deserving?

11-Pass The Shamrock:  He has looked good in his last four outings.  Is he game for this one?

14-Cairo Blizzard:  Coming off a big G2 win last time out.  Can he repeat?

Tarton’s Long Shot

2-Indulgent Mix:  He has four wins in a row and he is looking like a nice pick at 17/1 to cash a ticket.  He got one of his choice jockeys for this race and they are coming off a G2 win together in their last outing.  He could be a surprise in this field if he finds a good trip and could be a good play on some exotic tickets at the betting window.