Charles Town: Maiden winners to clash

Three horses who won fast maiden races with nearly identical Beyer Speed Figures clash in the $50,000 Dr. Ernest Benner Stakes at Charles Town.

The 6 1/2-furlong Benner is the last local prep for the $125,000 Vincent Moscarelli Memorial on Oct. 18.

Although Russell Road (72) owns a slim Beyer Figure edge over Buzz (71) and Flash Traffic (69), his 12 1/4-length win might have been the most impressive, because it came against open company. His trainer, James Casey, won the 2004 Benner with Wild Records and finished third in this race in both 2006 and 2007 with horses who went off at 3-1 or lower.

Flash Traffic overcame post 10 to romp by 14 lengths in his second career start and now adds Lasix for Maryland-based trainer Gary Capuano, who is winning at a 38 percent clip at Charles Town this season.

Buzz wired eight rivals in his career debut at the Benner distance of 6 1/2 furlongs.

* Trainer Ollie Figgins will send out the two fastest fillies in the $50,000 Golden Gull, a 4 1/2-furlong prep for the $125,000 Triple Crown Nutrition Breeders Classic on Oct. 18.

Figgins has the coupled entry of Fluvanna, a seven-length winner two weeks ago, and B B's Bop, who finished fast to miss by a head in her career debut on the same card as her stablemate, earning a Beyer that was just 4 points lower.

* Lacewell, 5 for 6 in short sprints locally, is the logical favorite and 124-pound highweight in a $50,000 overnight handicap at 4 1/2 furlongs.

His rivals include Love's Strong Hart and Sir Silver Fox, who finished within a head of each other as the third- and fourth-place finishers in the $200,000 Charles Town Dash in June.