Down Town Allen cruises to fifth straight victory in Sylvia Bishop

Down Town Allen solidified her status as this year’s 3-year-old West Virginia-bred filly by cruising to an easy 13 1/4-length victory in Saturday night’s $51,100 Sylvia Bishop Memorial Stakes at Charles Town.

The seven-furlong Bishop is the local prep for the $75,000 West Virginia Division of Tourism on Oct. 16, part of the West Virginia Breeders Classic program.

In winning her fifth straight race this season and ninth in 14 starts lifetime, Down Town Allen ($2.20) covered the distance in 1:25.60 under regular rider Matt McGowan and earned a career-best 92 Beyer Speed Figure. Her time was two seconds faster than when she won the Tri-State Futurity as a 2-year-old last November.

Down Town Allen is owned and trained by John A. Casey.

Stowe White finished a distant second at 12-1, 1 ½ lengths in front of Down Town Allen’s stablemate, I Just Did It.