Late money on Malpais proves right in Robert Hilton Memorial

Trainer Joe Sharp is, well, pretty sharp when it comes to choosing horses to ship to the $100,000 Robert Hilton Memorial Stakes at Charles Town.

In 2018, Sharp won the Hilton with Cool Arrow, and on Saturday, he won it again with Malpais, who seized control from the start and never came close to being threatened. Under Gabriel Saez, Malpais closed the rail off into the first of two turns as Federal Case tried to creep through and proceeded to set a comfortable pace while rating kindly. Saez waited until his mount had nearly completed the second turn before asking for run, and Malpais quickly kicked clear, crossing the wire 4 1/4 lengths in front of Admiral Lynch, who nipped Federal Case for second.

Malpais, who was heavily bet late in the wagering, paid $4 as the favorite while running seven furlongs on a fast track in 1:25.15. Sharp trains Malpais for his breeders, Richard and Connie Snyder, and Brett and Billie Joe Seltzer. Malpais is a 3-year-old by Hard Spun and out of D’elegance, by El Corredor. His third win from six starts was his first stakes success, but Malpais has shown enough talent in sprint races that he could find further stakes success later this year.

Devine Mischief never headed in Bristol

Devine Mischief and jockey J.D. Acosta stole the $100,000 Dance to Bristol Stakes, setting a tepid tempo and holding off a late bid from Isotope to prevail by a neck.

Lake Ponchatrain, the 17-10 second choice, finished third by a neck over 3-2 favorite Tweeting. Lake Ponchatrain won the 2018 Dance to Bristol and specializes in two-turn Charles Town sprints like this race but turned in a somewhat flat performance Saturday and never looked like a winner.

Breaking from the inside, Devine Mischief strolled through an opening quarter-mile in an easy 24.60 seconds and took no pressure through a half in 48.38. Acosta roused her partway around the far turn, and Devine Mischief had just enough in the tank to hold on through the short homestretch as Isotope, rallying outside Tweeting, just fell short. The winning time for the seven furlongs was 1:25.61, and Devine Mischief paid $29.20.

Devine Mischief, owned by Breeze Easy LLC, is trained by Javier Contreras, who has an even better filly in the barn named Late Night Pow Wow. A 4-year-old, Devine Mischief is by Into Mischief and out of Vibrant, by Vicar, and won for the fifth time in 11 starts.

Clubman parties in Russell Road

Clubman, who got a patient ride, ran down the pace-dueling Cool Arrow, who didn’t, to win the $75,000 Russell Road Stakes.

Cool Arrow had shipped in to win the Robert Hilton Memorial on the Charles Town Classic card last year and was live again Saturday in the Russell Road, but after being sent hard to the front, Cool Arrow got in a pace war with Wildwood Dancer, going a quarter-mile in 23.09 and a half-mile in a testing 46.10. Cool Arrow disposed of Wildwood Dancer around the second of two turns, but Clubman already had him measured.

Reserved in fifth place while saving ground under Xavier Perez, Clubman began moving up at the head of the far turn, took aim at the pacesetter in upper stretch, and pushed past in the final 100 yards to win by one length. The winning time for the seven furlongs on a fast track was 1:24.56, and Clubman paid $21.80 to win.

Clubman, making his Charles Town debut, shipped in from Laurel for Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon, who trains him for the Caonabo Stable. The 5-year-old gelding is by Not For Love and out of Otherwise Perfect, by Lemon Drop Kid.

• Vic’s Pick ($5.40) won the $50,950 Coin Collector Stakes for West Virginia-bred 3-year-olds. Vic’s Pick was ridden by Luis Batista for breeder-owner-trainer Michael Sterling. The gelding is by Fiber Sonde and out of Aarons Castle, by Windsor Castle.

• Odds-on favorite Anna’s Bandit was an easy winner of the $51,100 Original Gold for West Virginia-bred older fillies and mares. John Robb trains Anna’s Bandit, a daughter of Great Notion and Onearmedbandit, by No Armistice, for No Guts No Glory Farm.

• Aaron’s Tap, yet another favorite, led all the way in the $51,450 Confucius Say for older West Virginia-breds. Jeff Runco trains Aaron’s Tap for Smart Angle LLC. Aaron’s Tap is by Northern Afleet and out of Tapforaly, by Pleasant Tap.