Charles Town: Mud-loving Wardelle captures Pink Ribbon
Wardelle is clearly a mare who loves running in the mud. Although she easily won each of her two previous starts this season on wet tracks, Wardelle was overlooked by bettors Saturday night during sloppy conditions at Charles Town.
Sent to the front by jockey J.D. Acosta, Wardelle easily defeated 6-5 favorite Strike the Moon by 4 1/2 lengths in the $50,000 Pink Ribbon Stakes during the undercard of a 13-race program highlighted by a pair of $400,000 stakes, the Researcher and Charles Town Oaks.
The 7-year-old Wardelle ($17.40), trained by Dimitrious Synnefias for owner Peter Kazamias, ran seven furlongs in 1:26.23 to earn her 13th win in 54 lifetime starts. Two starts ago, she earned a career-top 88 Beyer Speed Figure for winning a six-furlong, second-level optional $25,000 claimer at Penn National over a track rated good. In April, she caught similar track conditions and scored by 7 1/4 lengths.
Strike the Moon, returning to Charles Town for the first time since winning the 2011 Charles Town Oaks, had to settle for second, with Hymn Note third.
Local star Lucy’s Bob Boy ($3.20) had few problems disposing of four opponent s in the $85,000 Wild and Wonderful.
With Gustavo Larrosa up for trainer Sandra Dono, the 4-year-old West Virginia-bred Lucy’s Bob Boy ran seven furlongs in 1:26.23 to win for the 15th time in 18 starts locally. He finished 2 1/4 lengths in front. Penn National shipper Tomorrow’s Tale got second by a neck over Silver Menace.
Elsewhere on the undercard:
* In a possible preview of next month’s West Virginia Breeders’ Classic, Fred High blew past the millionaire Russell Road to win the $35,000 Roger Ramey Handicap at 1 1/16 miles by 2 ¼ lengths. The 5-year-old Fred High ($9.60) was coming off a 16-1 upset in one-mile no-conditions allowance at Timonium.
Russell Road, the 2-5 favorite, won the West Virginia Breeders’ Classic in 2009 and 2011, and was second last year
* Down Town Allen ($3.40) tuned up for an expected defense of her title in next month’s Cavada Stakes for West Virginia-bred fillies and mares by coasting to victory in the $35,000 Ann Hilton Handicap at seven furlongs.
It was the 18th win in 31 starts at Charles Town for the 6-year-old Down Town Allen.
* Greenway Court ($17.60) shook loose from 1-5 favorite In the Fairway turning for home to win the $50,000 It's Only Money at 4 1/2 furlongs.
* Golden Set ($2.80), ridden by Jose Montaro for leading trainer Jeff Runco, scored by a length in the $35,000 Dr. Ernest Benner Handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs.
* The 3-year-old filly Red Hot Diva ($17.80), stretching out beyond seven furlongs for the first time, romped by 4 1/4 lengths in the $35,000 Harry Buch Handicap for fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles.
* Nana Anna ($5.60), a maiden whose only two previous starts came sprinting on turf in Indiana, handled the transition to slop for trainer Wesley Ward in the $50,000 Rachel’s Turn for 2-year-old fillies at 4 1/2 furlongs.
* Amherst Street ($3), winner of a fast maiden race in his career debut in July, cruised to an easy win in the $50,000 Henry Mercer Memorial for 2-year-olds at 4 1/2 furlongs.