Charles Town: Down Town Allen eyes repeat

Down Town Allen won both the Fancy Buckles and the Sadie Hawkins at Charles Town last season, and he will attempt to complete the same double in Saturday's $50,000 Sadie Hawkins.

In 2012 Down Town Allen won the Fancy Buckles going 4 1/2 furlongs over a fast track by nearly five lengths and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 82. In his next out, Down Town Allen won the Sadie Hawkins by a little over two lengths and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 84. Only five started last year, but 10 are scheduled to run Saturday in the Sadie Hawkins, a seven-furlong race for West Virginia-accredited horses.

This year, Down Town Allen won the Fancy Buckles on May 25 by a half-length, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 83. After a short layoff, Down Town Allen finished a dismal eighth in the open $100,000 West Virginia Secretary of State on Aug. 3 at Mountaineer Park. A return to statebred company and his favorite distance should benefit Down Town Allen, as he has won 7 of 11 going seven furlongs. Matthew McGowan will ride Down Town Allen, who is trained by John Casey.

The 3-year-old filly Jax and Jill, who has won 7 of 9 races, faces Down Town Allen again after finishing second to him in the Fancy Buckles. Trained by Scott Lake, Jax and Jill was beaten a half-length.

Gerald Almodovar retains the mount. The Lake-Almodovar trainer-jockey comb has won 8 of 14 races, a 57 percent clip, the past two years.