Charitable Annuity favored to win third A Huevo Stakes

The rematch is on Saturday night at Charles Town, where Charitable Annuity, North Atlantic, and Weekend Liberty meet in the $50,000 A Huevo. The trio were separated by a total of two noses last month when finishing a respective first, second, and third in the $315,000 West Virginia Breeders Classic at Charles Town

“I was right on the wire and everybody had a different winner,” said Jim Casey, who trains Charitable Annuity. “That was the closest race that I’ve ever seen. He won by, I’d say, a quarter inch, and the third horse was back an inch.”

The A Huevo will be run at the same 1 1/8-mile distance, and it, too, is restricted to 3-year-olds and up bred in West Virginia. The race drew a full field of 10, plus three also-eligibles.

Charitable Annuity is the most accomplished member of the field with a record of 15 wins from 28 starts for earnings of $848,454. He won the West Virginia Breeders Classic for the second time in his career Oct. 14, and he is a two-time winner of the A Huevo.

“This horse really likes a mile and an eighth,” said Casey, who trains Charitable Annuity for Mark E. Russell.

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The A Huevo is a three-turn race, and Charitable Annuity will break from the rail under leading rider Christian Hiraldo.

“He comes off of it a little bit,” Casey said. “He kind of lays back and at the quarter pole makes his run.”

Charitable Annuity has the same owner-trainer team as Russell Road, an earner of $2 million who won three runnings of the West Virginia Breeders Classic. Charitable Annuity is a 5-year-old by Charitable Man.

North Atlantic and Weekend Liberty both run for Coleswood Farm and are trained by Jeff Runco. North Atlantic could get a tracking trip off Rocket Road, Prince of Windsor and Set’em Joe, while a hot pace might benefit the late-running Weekend Liberty.