Charles Town: Distance a question for Julie B

The consistent horse-for-the-course Julie B will attempt to handle 1 1/8 miles for the first time in the $45,000 Daisy Mae Stakes at Charles Town for West Virginia-bred fillies and mares.

Julie B has been first or second in 11 of her 12 starts locally, but almost all of her races have been at seven furlongs. Aside from two experiments on turf, where she didn't finish better than fourth, the last time Julie B went beyond seven furlongs she was seventh of nine in the one-mile Anne Arundel at Laurel Park.

If the three turns and nine furlongs of the Daisy Mae prove too much for Julie B, the most likely win candidate is Castina, who is 3 for 10 at the distance. She was fourth of 10 facing males in the $450,000 West Virginia Breeders Classic last time out and had a legitimate excuse when she ran poorly two starts back. Three races ago, she dominated a first-level allowance against open company going 1 1/8 miles.