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Race 1 – Maiden Special Weight, 4.5F, Dirt, $30,600
Win: 1 Aye Direct – 88% confidence🥈
Place: 3 Mille Parole – 50% confidence
Show: 5 King Uni – 38% confidence🥉
Alternative: 4 Don’t Get Cute – 50% confidence🥇
Pick Pony analysts strongly favor Aye Direct, who has been knocking on the door with multiple runner-up finishes. The narrowly beaten favorite in his last start returns to the shorter sprint distance where he has shown his best form. Mille Parole debuts with solid connections and garners interest as an unknown factor. King Uni represents another first-time starter with potential, while Don’t Get Cute returns from a layoff but faces tough competition.
Race 2 – Allowance, 7.0F, Dirt WIN
Win: 4 Tomorrow’s Edge – 63% confidence🥇
Place: 1 Classy Bay – 75% confidence
Show: 6 Our Miss Crossbow – 63% confidence🥉
Alternative: 3 Keep Shining On Us – 25% confidence🥈
Pick Pony analysts are split between Tomorrow’s Edge and Classy Bay in this competitive allowance heat. Tomorrow’s Edge returns from a brief freshening after a strong second-place effort, while Classy Bay enters off back-to-back victories at the track. Our Miss Crossbow finished a neck behind in her seasonal debut and should improve with that race under her belt. Keep Shining On Us has consecutive wins but faces tougher company.
Race 3 – Maiden Claiming, 6.5F, Dirt
Win: 2 Gortreagh Gal – 50% confidence
Place: 7 Lilliput – 63% confidence🥇
Show: 8 Cajun Prime – 38% confidence
Alternative: 3 Proud Words – 38% confidence
Pick Pony analysts see a competitive maiden claiming race with Gortreagh Gal narrowly favored despite disappointing as the favorite last time. Lilliput drops from higher-level competition and could find this group more manageable. Cajun Prime finished just a nose behind the winner last start and stretches out in distance. Proud Words has shown consistent placing ability but seeks her first victory.
Race 4 – Maiden Claiming, 4.5F, Dirt, $19,100 WIN
Win: 2 Tina’s Back – 50% confidence🥇
Place: 1 She’s A Brickhouse – 38% confidence
Show: 4 Golden Plunge – 63% confidence🥈
Alternative: 5 Shessweetlikecandy – 25% confidence
Pick Pony analysts favor Tina’s Back despite her winless record, noting consistent placing efforts throughout her campaign. She’s A Brickhouse returns from a lengthy layoff with previous Charles Town experience. Golden Plunge finished four lengths back last time but has shown improvement and draws support from multiple analysts. Shessweetlikecandy makes her career debut as a potential wildcard.
Race 5 – Starter Optional Claiming, 4.5F, Dirt WIN
Win: 4 Stryda – 63% confidence🥇
Place: 7 Hot Fudge Warrior – 75% confidence
Show: 2 Smalltownsmokeshow – 38% confidence🥉
Alternative: 6 Dissolute – 25% confidence
Pick Pony analysts identify this as a two-horse race between Stryda and Hot Fudge Warrior. Stryda brings strong Charles Town form with three wins from eight attempts this season. Hot Fudge Warrior enters off a victory at the track and has proven effective at the distance. Smalltownsmokeshow finished second last time and has won previously at Charles Town. Dissolute represents an alternative option but faces steep competition.
Race 6 – Claiming, 7.0F, Dirt
Win: 4 Sparkleinyoureye – 50% confidence
Place: 7 Saronic Bay – 38% confidence🥈
Show: 2 Alice’s Moon – 63% confidence🥉
Alternative: 5 Addy Mae – 38% confidence🥇
Pick Pony analysts show divided opinions in this claiming route race. Sparkleinyoureye has placed consistently in recent starts and draws support from multiple handicappers. Saronic Bay finished third last time and has placed twice in three starts this campaign. Alice’s Moon returns from a long break but won her most recent start to break her maiden. Addy Mae finished midfield last time but cannot be dismissed.
Race 7 – Allowance, 4.5F, Dirt WIN
Win: 5 First Print – 50% confidence🥇
Place: 6 Aztec Melody – 25% confidence
Show: 2 Sonde Tails – 25% confidence🥈
Alternative: 3 Lil Knockout – 38% confidence
Pick Pony analysts split between First Print and Aztec Melody in this wide-open allowance sprint. First Print brings strong recent form while Aztec Melody finished fifth last start at Mahoning Valley but returns to familiar surroundings. Sonde Tails won last time to break maiden status and benefits from class relief. Lil Knockout has shown consistent performance and could factor prominently.
Race 8 – Claiming, 7.0F, Dirt, $12,400 WIN
Win: 7 Mo Joke – 75% confidence🥇
Place: 5 Contrivance – 63% confidence
Show: 1 Wrightsville – 25% confidence
Alternative: 6 We Live This Game – 38% confidence🥈
Pick Pony analysts strongly favor Mo Joke, who races on short rest after finishing second last time and has placed six times at Charles Town. Contrivance finished third in his last start and previously won at Woodbine this campaign. Wrightsville broke his maiden last time at the track with an impressive performance. We Live This Game returns from a break after winning at Monmouth Park.
Exotic Bets and Value Plays
Race 1 Exacta Box
Pick Pony analysts recommend boxing 1 Aye Direct with 3 Mille Parole and 2 Juba’sdiamond. The strong favorite combined with a promising debut runner and the second choice provides solid value potential.
Race 2 Exacta
Key 4 Tomorrow’s Edge over 1 Classy Bay and 6 Our Miss Crossbow. The top two selections show strong recent form and this race could produce a competitive exacta payout.
Race 4 Trifecta Box
Box 2 Tina’s Back, 4 Golden Plunge, and 1 She’s A Brickhouse for the trifecta. This competitive maiden claiming race features three horses with legitimate winning chances, making the trifecta an attractive option.
Race 5 Exacta
The standout race features 4 Stryda and 7 Hot Fudge Warrior as the dominant choices. Box these two for a high-probability exacta payoff in what analysts view as effectively a two-horse race.
Race 8 Trifecta
Key 7 Mo Joke on top with 5 Contrivance, 1 Wrightsville, and 6 We Live This Game underneath. Mo Joke’s consistent Charles Town performances combined with the competitive nature of the field make this an attractive trifecta opportunity.
Daily Double
Connect Race 1 (1 Aye Direct) with Race 2 (4 Tomorrow’s Edge / 1 Classy Bay) for a strong daily double play opening the card.
Pick 3 Value
Races 4-5-6: Include 2 Tina’s Back and 4 Golden Plunge in Race 4, both 4 Stryda and 7 Hot Fudge Warrior in Race 5, and spread across 4 Sparkleinyoureye, 7 Saronic Bay, and 2 Alice’s Moon in Race 6 for a manageable Pick 3 ticket with solid win potential.
