Charles Town: It's Binn Too Long anyone's race

Eight 3-year-old West Virginia-bred fillies, all seeking their first stakes victory, will clash in Saturday night’s $50,000 It’s Binn Too Long Stakes at Charles Town.

Slew of Bullets, who cuts back from two turns to one, and recent maiden winner Ideal Thoughts appear to be the strongest contenders in the 4 1/2-furlong race, which lacks a clear standout.

After beginning her career with four straight losses, Slew of Bullets won her maiden going 4 1/2 furlongs and stretched out to two turns and 6 1/2 furlongs to take a first-level allowance. Last time out, she flashed good speed before fading to fifth in another 6 1/2-furlong allowance.

Ideal Thoughts cruised by 4 3/4 lengths against maidens on April 30 while making her first start since October. That 4 1/2-furlong sprint turned into a key race when both third-place finisher Dixie Prize and fifth-place finisher Run Bop Run came back to win their next start.

Blushing B.J. missed winning the $67,000 Triple Crown Nutrition on last fall’s West Virginia Breeders’ Classic card by a half-length. But she has been off since November and her trainer, Tim Grams, is 0 for 13 with horses returning from a break of more than 180 days in short sprints.

Won’t Be Denied returned from an eight-month layoff to take a first-level allowance on May 12. Her 52 Beyer Speed Figure is close to the 53 Ideal Thoughts earned for her maiden win, but 9 points below the pair of 61’s Slew of Bullets has recorded in longer races.

Cozy At Midnight owns the best-last race Beyer, a 62, but she has been going two turns in her last four starts and her only good race in three tries at 4 1/2 furlongs came against maidens last October.