Charles Town: Julie B formidable

Julie B, a dominating presence among the fillies and mares at Charles Town the past two seasons, returns to restricted company for the $50,000 Shy Native Stakes at her home track.

Now 5, Julie B has been first or second in 13 of 14 lifetime starts at Charles Town, including six stakes. She will be racing at her best distance, seven furlongs, in the Shy Native, a race restricted to West Virginia-sired fillies and mares.

In her only other start this season, facing open company in a fourth-level allowance, Julie B lacked her usual explosive closing kick while finishing second on Jan. 20.

Her rivals Saturday include Shes Pretty Fancy, who is looking for her sixth win in a row while making her stakes debut, and Shesagrumptoo, who has finished behind Julie B all four times she has faced her since September 2006.