Charles Town: Top-seeded Albrecht heads group advancing in Starter Tournament

Horses heavily backed by the public captured all four legs during the opening round of the Charles Town Starter Tournament on Saturday night.

In the fourth heat, the favored Albrecht ($4.80), the top-seeded horse in a series restricted to horses who have started for $5,000 or less since Jan. 1, 2011, nosed out Azicharmyou.

Coltraider ($3.80) prevailed in a three-horse photo over C V’s Develen and the filly Call of a Lion in the first division.

In the other two divisions, second choice Cape Finisterre ($5.60) scored in a race reduced to just horses by numerous scratches and favored Pure Rey ($4.80) rolled to a 3 3/4-length victory.

All four runners from Cape Finisterre’s heat and the top five finishers from the other three divisions will advance to the semifinals on March 24, when the distance increases to seven furlongs and a $30,000 purse will be up for grabs in two divisions. The top five finishers in the semifinals will compete in the $55,000 Championship over 1 1/16 miles on Charles Town Classic Night, April 14.