2013 Charles Town Classic Stakes
Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 2 Charles Town Classic comes our way this Saturday, April 20 from the beautiful state of West Virginia. A very nice purse of $1.5 million will be on the line when horses four years old and upward race 1 1/8 miles on Charles Town Races' main track.
The Charles own Classic has attracted a very strong field of seven for race 12 on Charles Town's Saturday card. Post time is 10:30 PM. Let's take a brief glance into the past performances of all seven combatants for this Grade 2 stakes.
2013 Charles Town Classic Stakes Race Favorites
Game on Dude Bob Baffert trained gelding is a multiple Grade 1 winner. He has six graded stakes scores in his last nine starts - the Grade 2 Californian Stakes on June 2 over Kettle Corn, the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup July 7, the Grade 1 Awesome Again here September 29, the Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes at Hollywood Park December 1 in gate-to-wire fashion, in the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes February 3 and last time out - a repeat win in the Big Cap at Santa Anita. He also had a decent second in the Grade 1 Pacific Stakes in 2012 but struggled on the biggest stage in the Breeders' Cup Classic where he finished seventh. Still, game On Dude was a consideration for last year's Eclipse Award for older male and if not for Wise Dan, he may have been in the running this year again. He is by far the most accomplished entry in the field, he was second in the 2011 version of this race and will be looking to keep the hot streak going Saturday.
Ron the Greek - looked very good in 2012 with two wins and three second place finishes in five starts before a sixth in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park September 29 and an OK fourth in the Breeders' Cup Classic in November. The wins last year were in the Grade 1 Steven Foster Handicap and the Santa Anita Handicap while the seconds came in the Florida Sunshine Millions, the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap and the Grade 1 Whitney Invitational. Trainer Bill Mott saw Ron the Greek record a repeat win by 11 1/4 lengths in the Sunshine Millions Classic Stakes January 19 at Gulfstream but he finished off the board with a fourth last time out in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap March 2.
Charles Town Classic Stakes 2013 | Remaining Field Entries
Clubhouse Ride - enters the Charles Town Classic having four straight runner-up finishes. Last time out was in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap March 2 after the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes February, in the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes in December and an Allowance Optional Claiming on January 10. He has been knocking on the door for sure and is ready to break out. He has just three wins, seven seconds and eight third place finishes in 26 career starts.
Caixa Electronica - defending champion in this race - Todd Pletcher trained Caixa Electronica won the Charles Town Classic Stakes on April 4 and the Grade 2 True North Handicap on June 8 before stumbling in the next three races - a fifth in the Grade 3 James Marvin on July 20, an eighth in the Grade 1 Whitney Invitational on August 4 and a fourth in the Grade 1 Forgo on September 1. He had a good second to The Lumber Guy in the Grade 1 Vosburgh at September 29 but finished seventh after that in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler. Caixa Electronica enters on a nice two race win streak - the minor Uncle Mo Stakes at Aqueduct on March 14 and the Grade 3 Fall Highweight Handicap also at Aqueduct in November. He is hot and cold as they come but comes into the Charles Town Classic Hot.
Charles Town Classic Stakes betting at Charles Town Races with OffTrackBetting.com
Percussion - Todd Pletcher pupil has races 11 straight Allowance Optional Claiming races but is coming off two straight wins both at Aqueduct. Before that were 10 straight MSW races. Needless to say, Saturday marks a huge step up in competition for Percussion who has four wins, four seconds and two third place finishes in 21 career starts.
Mordi's Miracle - Todd Pletcher trained colt made his stakes debut March 23 with a good third in the Grade 3 Excelsior Stakes at Aqueduct after seven starts produced two wins (a MSW four back and an Allowance Optional Claiming three back) and one second place finish which came in an Allowance Optional Claiming here March 2.
Isn't He Perfect - had 13 starts in 2012 and placed in his last four - all minor stakes action. A good second in the Evening Attire Stakes behind Last Gunfighter started his 2013 campaign here January 19 after a pair of thirds at Aqueduct in December. He was third last time out in the Grade 3 Excelsior Stakes after a second in the Starter Stakes at Aqueduct February 16 and a disappointing fifth in the Grade 3 Toboggan Stakes at Aqueduct February 2. Isn`t He Perfect has five wins, eight seconds and six third place finishes in 35 career starts but has been in the money in 13 of his last 15 races.
