Hypothesis faces pair of swift rivals in Coin Collector Stakes

Hypothesis, who is proven in stakes company but coming off a long layoff, faces Bright Dawn and Muad’dib, who are stepping up in class after posting gaudy Beyer Speed Figures this season, in the $50,000 Coin Collector Stakes for West Virginia-accredited 3-year-olds on Saturday night at Charles Town. The 4 1/2-furlong Coin Collector attracted a field of eight.

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Hypothesis is seeking his third consecutive stakes victory at Charles Town, but will be making his first start since October. The gelding won his debut in July at Charles Town, then hit the road, finishing fourth in the Rosie’s Stakes on the Colonial Downs turf. The winner, Four Wheel Drive, later captured the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint to complete an unbeaten season. Hypothesis returned to Charles Town, winning the Henry Mercer Memorial Stakes in September and the West Virginia Vincent Moscarelli Memorial Breeders’ Classic Stakes in October. Hypothesis will have regular rider Gerald Almodovar aboard for trainer Crystal Pickett in his 3-year-old debut.

Bright Dawn is making his first start in his home state of West Virginia. Bright Dawn was second by a neck in his debut in January at Laurel Park, then won by a neck there Feb. 16 over a next-out winner. He earned Beyers of 73 and 74 in those two outings, the best numbers in this field. By comparison, Hypothesis earned his career-best Beyer of 61 in winning the Mercer Memorial. J.D. Acosta has the call on Bright Dawn for trainer A. Ferris Allen III.

Muad’dib has won all three of his starts by a combined 21 lengths, all at Charles Town under jockey Arnaldo Bocachica, who remains in the irons Saturday for trainer Jeff Runco. Muad’dib, one of four entrants in the eight-horse field by leading West Virginia sire Fiber Sonde, earned a career-best Beyer of 66 in his most recent outing, an eight-length allowance win on March 21.

Although Bright Dawn and Muad’dib have posted the highest Beyers in this field, neither has run at a distance shorter than six furlongs. Hypothesis has won both his starts at the 4 1/2 furlongs of the Coin Collector.

Fancy Castle has won both his starts, both at Charles Town, with a maiden win at this distance. The field is rounded out by Mywalktofreedom, most recently seen winning a maiden race in December at Charles Town; Chief Randel, who won twice from six starts as a juvenile while running in Ohio; Dan the Man Can, whose lone win came in a maiden-claiming race last December at Aqueduct; and Swing Batter, whose lone win in eight career starts came at this 4 1/2-furlong distance at Charles Town.