Charles Town: Plantation sprints clear in A Huevo

Heavily favored Russell Road failed to display his customary closing kick, enabling speedsters Plantation and Tup Take’ Please to run one-two in Saturday night’s $51,060 A Huevo Stakes for West Virginia-breds at Charles Town.

The 5-year-old Russell Road, who became a millionaire by winning last month’s $450,000 West Virginia Breeders’ Classic, finished fourth, beaten 13 3/4 lengths, as the 1-2 favorite. It was his worst finish since he was fourth at 1-10 in the 2010 Classic.

Plantation ($7.40), ridden by Travis Dunkelberger for trainer Rodney Jenkins, sat just off the early pace set by stretch-out sprinter Tup Take’ Please. He took over the lead with about six furlongs remaining in the 1 1/8-mile race, opened up a 2 1/2-length advantage through a half-mile in 47.71 seconds, and coasted home 3 1/2 lengths in front in a final time of 1:53.02.

Plantation, third behind Russell Road in both the Classic and the local allowance prep for that 1 1/8-mile race, is now 6 for 9 lifetime. His previous stakes win came in the Private Terms at Laurel Park in March 2010.

Tup Take’ Please, racing beyond seven furlongs for the first time, was easily second best, 5 ¼ lengths in front of Son of a Bear.