Pick Pony Tip Sheet – Expert picks for Charles Town, November 28, 2025.


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Race 1 – Maiden Claiming 4.5F Dirt $12,400

Win: Go Long (7) 38% and Warrior’s Notion (1) 38%
Place: Warrior’s Notion (1) 50%
Show: War Thunder (5) 50%
Alternative: John’s Glory (3) 75%

This is a highly competitive maiden claiming race with tight consensus across the board. Go Long shows recent improvement and pace, making it an attractive proposition in the win spot. The form suggests a three-way battle with Warrior’s Notion and War Thunder, both of which have respectable credentials at this level. Back-to-back placements for Warrior’s Notion indicate readiness for a breakthrough win. War Thunder’s recent form suggests it could be the likeliest place finisher if the pace scenario favors stalkers.

Exotic consideration: Exacta combinations using Go Long and Warrior’s Notion in either order represent solid value given their consensus support. War Thunder’s consistency in the show position across multiple analyst selections warrants inclusion in deeper exotic structures.


Race 2 – Claiming 1433Y Dirt $15,800

Win: Juba’s Heart (2) 43%
Place: Doctor Pardo (6) 67%
Show: Noid (8) 100%
Alternative: One Candy Castle (5) 100%

Strong consensus indicates Noid as a lock for the show position. The horse’s recent comeback win combined with solid placement credentials makes it an anchor in exotic plays. Doctor Pardo commands the place position with two-thirds analyst support, suggesting a form line that projects well in non-metro claiming. Juba’s Heart leads the win position despite recent racing luck troubles, indicating trainers and analysts view it as more likely to succeed. Change Your Luck presents an overlay possibility if overlooked, having competed against similar recently. One Candy Castle shows potential to round out the trifecta.

Exotic consideration: Exacta using Juba’s Heart and Doctor Pardo offers strong overlay potential given their consensus support. Noid’s unanimous show placement makes it a cornerstone horse for trifecta and superfecta structures across all predicted outcomes.


Race 3 – Claiming 4.5F Dirt $13,600

Win: Flying To Neptune (6) 57%
Place: Spanish Ghost (9) 29% and Flying To Neptune (6) 29%
Show: Margarita Sunset (8) 57%
Alternative: Funny Road (7) 100%

Flying To Neptune commands the consensus with over half of analysts selecting it for the win. The horse’s consistency at Charles Town combined with recent form suggests it is well-positioned for this level. Margarita Sunset appears the likely closer given its track-specific record. The trifecta picture includes Spanish Ghost, which has been throwing early speed races against similar competition recently. Funny Road projects as the consensus fourth-place finisher, suggesting it will have enough to reach the money but not quite enough to threaten the top spots. Multiple closing-type runners in this race suggest pace analysis could yield overlay opportunities if early speed runs hot.

Exotic consideration: Exacta combinations featuring Flying To Neptune in the win spot with Margarita Sunset in place offer strong value. Spanish Ghost’s dual support in both place and show positions makes it an effective bridge horse for trifecta structures.


Race 4 – Claiming 4.5F Dirt $12,000

Win: Running Rio (7) 71%
Place: Genuine Peril (2) 83%
Show: Running Rio (7) 60%
Alternative: All Aboard (8) 100%

Running Rio dominates the win position with strong consensus support following an impressive recent victory. The overwhelming backing for Genuine Peril in the place position suggests analysts expect it to finish behind the favorite but comfortably in the money. Running Rio’s 60% show support indicates some analysts consider it capable of setting the pace and holding on through the stretch rather than simply winning from behind. All Aboard shows as the consensus fourth-place finisher, suggesting it will have race-day speed enough to reach the board but face tough outside competition from the consensus top finishers. OK Smarty Pants presents value consideration in the show spot given its 40% pick rate despite stronger favorites nearby.

Exotic consideration: Running Rio-Genuine Peril exacta offers strong pick probability. Running Rio’s dominance in both win and show positions makes it a cornerstone horse for any exotic structure. Consider Genuine Peril underlays given its overwhelming place consensus.


Race 5 – Claiming 1433Y Dirt $12,400

Win: Smart Cry (8) 50%
Place: Grand Intentions (2) 50%
Show: Grand Intentions (2) 40% and R Special (6) 40%
Alternative: Grand Intentions (2) 100%

Smart Cry leads the win position with exactly half of analysts in agreement, suggesting a fairly split opinion on this race’s outcome. Grand Intentions shows impressive consensus support across place and show positions and as the consensus fourth-place finisher, indicating strong form line support. R Special, though leading several initial picks, appears to have lost favor slightly in the consensus, though remains viable. The split consensus in the win spot suggests overlays may exist on either Smart Cry or R Special depending on morning line odds. Grand Intentions appears to be the most reliable horse in this race based on its consistency across multiple finishing positions in analyst picks.

Exotic consideration: Grand Intentions emerges as a key bridge horse, appearing in place, show, and alternative positions with combined support. Smart Cry’s 50% win backing makes it essential in win-heavy exotic structures. Trifecta combinations featuring Grand Intentions in place and show positions across different win choices offer reasonable value.


Race 6 – Maiden Special Weight 4.5F Dirt $13,000

Win: Hey Nigh Teen (2) 33%, Belle Cause (10) 33%, and Chelsea’s Dream (4) 33%
Place: Chelsea’s Dream (4) 50% and Hey Nigh Teen (2) 50%
Show: Belle Cause (10) 83%
Alternative: Breadman’shoneybun (3) 100%

This is a maiden race with evenly split consensus opinion on the winner, suggesting legitimate win contention for three horses. Belle Cause commands overwhelming support in the show position at 83%, indicating it is the most reliable horse for place money in the race. Chelsea’s Dream and Hey Nigh Teen show dead-even support in the place position, suggesting they are expected to run one-two in some order with Belle Cause following. The split win opinion combined with strong Belle Cause show support suggests the trifecta outcome is more predictable than the win. Breadman’shoneybun as the consensus fourth indicates it will be in contention but not favored over the three consensus top finishers. Recent racing suggests this group is competitive, and overlays will depend on morning line odds.

Exotic consideration: Exacta combinations among the three co-consensus favorites (Chelsea’s Dream, Hey Nigh Teen, Belle Cause) offer multiple overlay possibilities. Belle Cause’s overwhelming show backing makes it an ideal inclusion in trifecta and superfecta structures as the third-place finisher.


Race 7 – Allowance Optional Claiming 1542Y Dirt $14,000

Win: Youthinkthatsfunny (2) 100%
Place: Muad’dib (8) 83%
Show: Juba’s Notion (6) 50%
Alternative: Social Chic (4) 100%

Unanimous consensus on Youthinkthatsfunny for the win indicates this is the strongest consensus pick of the entire card. The horse’s recent placing as a favorite suggests form remains solid despite not crossing the wire. Overwhelming analyst support for Muad’dib in the place position indicates confident backing for this runner-up slot. Juba’s Notion leads the show position with exactly half of analyst support, suggesting alternative closing options exist but this horse appears most likely in third. This race’s finish order appears highly predictable based on analyst consensus, suggesting that exacta and trifecta odds may offer little value compared to straight wagering on the consensus favorites. Social Chic as the consensus fourth indicates the race may set up for a pace-and-fade scenario with these four horses clearly separated from the remainder of the field.

Exotic consideration: The overwhelming consensus across the top three positions suggests minimal overlay opportunity in standard trifecta play. However, if any of the consensus favorites shows underlaid odds, exacta combinations with those horses as single components warrant strong consideration against other favorites.


Race 8 – Claiming 1433Y Dirt $13,000

Win: Talbot Heirloom (9) 50%
Place: Fontabelle (2) 50%
Show: Titian Tyrant (8) 33%
Alternative: Queen Of Soul (6) 100%

Talbot Heirloom leads the win position with exactly half of analysts backing it, while Fontabelle commands the place position with equal 50% support, indicating two strong contenders with nearly split consensus. The race appears to hinge on whether Talbot Heirloom can wire the field or if Fontabelle will get a perfect stalking trip from the place spot. Titian Tyrant’s 33% support in the show position suggests multiple closing options exist in this race, with Melancia, Queen Of Soul, and others capable of finishing in the money. The split consensus on the top two finishers suggests this race may offer the most overlay potential of the card depending on morning line odds. Queen Of Soul as the consensus fourth indicates this horse will likely be in contention for the board but face pressure from the consensus top three.

Exotic consideration: Exacta combinations using Talbot Heirloom and Fontabelle in either order represent the race’s key wagers given their consensus support. Titian Tyrant’s presence in both place and show positions from multiple analysts makes it a reliable bridge horse for trifecta and superfecta structures. Melancia should not be overlooked in place or show exotics despite slightly lower overall consensus.


EXOTIC BETTING RECOMMENDATIONS & VALUE PLAYS

Race 1 – Look for exacta value using Warrior’s Notion and War Thunder in alternate orders given their consistent support across multiple positions. Go Long’s dual backing in win and place positions makes it cornerstone horse for superfecta structures.

Race 2 – The unanimous Noid show consensus combined with strong Doctor Pardo place backing suggests trifecta odds may offer limited value. Focus on straight showplace wagers on Noid combined with exacta plays using Juba’s Heart over Doctor Pardo.

Race 3 – Flying To Neptune’s consistent support warrants single coverage in win position. Spanish Ghost represents value in exacta and trifecta combinations given split analyst opinion on its finishing position between place and show.

Race 4 – Running Rio’s dominance warrants straight win wagering. The Genuine Peril place consensus is so strong that underlaid exacta odds with any contending horse may offer value as secondary win choice combinations.

Race 5 – The split win opinion between Smart Cry and R Special suggests investigating morning line odds for overlay opportunities. Grand Intentions’ consistency across multiple finish positions makes it the most reliable horse for exotic combination building.

Race 6 – The even split among three consensus win contenders suggests exacta combinations among Chelsea’s Dream, Hey Nigh Teen, and Belle Cause offer better value than trying to predict a single winner. Belle Cause’s overwhelming show support should anchor trifecta plays.

Race 7 – With complete consensus on Youthinkthatsfunny for the win, exacta focus should center on secondary choice determination. Muad’dib and Juba’s Notion represent the likely place and show finishers, suggesting Youthinkthatsfunny exacta combinations offer solid pick probability.

Race 8 – The split between Talbot Heirloom and Fontabelle creates exacta overlay opportunity. Investigate underlay situations on either top choice and construct trifecta plays accordingly with Titian Tyrant as the likely show finisher.

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