Charles Town track report

The addition of blinkers made a big difference for trainer Ed Tobin's 2-year-old filly Malibu Sue.

Beaten nearly 13 lengths three weeks earlier in the West Virginia Futurity, Malibu Sue ($73) responded to the equipment change by upsetting the inaugural $40,000 Eleanor Casey Memorial Stakes for 2-year-old statebred fillies at Charles Town on Dec. 3.

Despite breaking last in the field of 10, Malibu Sue managed to get herself into contention under jockey Matt McGown and drew clear by 1 1/2 lengths. Cross Creek Rosie was second, a head in front of Aye Robbin.

* Turn the Kee didn't appear to be a good investment when, two starts after he was claimed for $6,000 by trainer Stephanie Beattie, he couldn't beat $4,000 claimers.

But Beattie's claim now looks like a shrewd move after Turn the Kee ($21.40), a 4-year-old gelding, scored by three-quarters of a length in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance on Nov. 30. Turn the Kee's share of the $26,000 purse was $15,600, more than twice what Beattie paid to acquire him.

* Apprentice rider Erick Ramirez has been making the most of his live mounts. Last weekend, Ramirez rode five winners in two days, including three in which he perfectly timed his mount's decisive move.

Ramirez and Indigo Flyer ($15.40) nailed 4-5 favorite City News in the final strides of a seven-furlong allowance last Sunday. He also got Bear Echo ($15) to take the lead just before the wire and won by a neck on Peaknblue ($7.20).