Aaron's Tap may have edge in even field for It's Only Money

The $50,000 It’s Only Money, a 4 1/2-furlong stakes for West Virginia-bred speed-burners at Charles Town on Saturday night, has drawn a very evenly matched group of seven.

Favoritism could go to Aaron’s Tap or Greenway Court, but the betting will be spread among others, too.

Aaron’s Tap, trained by Jeff Runco, is coming out of a key race. He will be shortening up in distance from six consecutive two-turn starts at seven furlongs or 6 1/2 furlongs.

But Aaron’s Tap has good early speed and is 2 for 3 at 4 1/2 furlongs. He was run down in the stretch of an allowance race last time out after holding a 2 1/2-length lead into the stretch. He finished third, beaten 1 1/4 lengths.

The winner, Follow the Notion, came back to win the Lucy’s Bob Boy at seven furlongs on the Charles Town Classic undercard. The runner-up, Mean Bean, who finished a nose ahead of Aaron’s Tap, won a three-turn 1 1/16-mile allowance in his next start. Henry the King, who finished last, won a $10,000 claiming race at Laurel Park in his ensuing start.

Arnaldo Bocachica, who held a one-win lead over Christian Hiraldo in the Charles Town rider standings coming into the Thursday night card, is Aaron’s Tap’s regular rider and will be aboard Saturday.

Greenway Court, who is conditioned by James W. Casey, finished in a dead heat for fourth on the Charles Town Classic undercard in the Caixa Eletronica, an open race at 4 1/2 furlongs. Delta Bluesman won that race by seven lengths and Greenway Court was beaten only 1 1/2 lengths for second.

Greenway Court, 9, is 17 for 30 at 4 1/2 furlongs at Charles Town. Antonio Lopez rides.

George Town Cat scored a 41-1 upset in the West Virginia Dash for Cash Breeder’s Classic last fall at Charles Town for trainer Manolo Mangual. He is 0 for 2 this season.

Eutaw Street, the runner-up in the Dash for Cash at 2-1, will be making his first start of the year. Trained by David Walters, Eutaw Street has a history of running well following long layoffs.

Court Date, the most lightly raced runner in the field, is 2 for 4 at 4 1/2 furlongs. He stretched out to seven furlongs for the Lucy’s Bob Boy on the Charles Town Classic undercard but weakened in the stretch to be beaten three lengths. Trained by Lela Hanagan, he should appreciate the shorter distance of the It’s only Money.

Finger Lakes: Breakin the Fever returns

Breakin the Fever, the Horse of the Year at Finger Lakes the past three seasons, will be a short price when he begins his 6-year-old campaign in a New York-bred no-conditions allowance sprint Saturday.

The five-horse field also has drawn Ostrolenka, winner of the Hudson Handicap on New York Showcase Day at Belmont last fall, and Saratoga Giro, who was second to Breakin the Fever in the Leon Reed Memorial at Finger Lakes last October.

Breakin the Fever is 17 for 20 at Finger Lakes in his career and 20 for 32 overall. He races for and is trained by his breeders, Ronnie and Debra Breed. Breakin the Fever has earned $565,000 during his four seasons of competition.

Last year, Breakin the Fever won the Leon Reed for the third straight time and the George W. Barker for the second. He scored his richest win in the 2016 Hudson Handicap at Belmont Park.

Nazario Alvarado will ride Breakin the Fever for the 14th consecutive time Saturday.

Ostrolenka has been off form in his four starts since winning the Hudson. Saratoga Giro has made his last four starts at Aqueduct and should appreciate being back home at Finger Lakes, where he is 6 for 10.