Late Night Pow Wow has fifth straight win in Charles Town Oaks

Late Night Pow Wow won her fifth consecutive race when she edged 42-1 longshot Chauncey by a neck in the Grade 3, $300,000 Charles Town Oaks on Saturday night in West Virginia.

It was another five lengths back to favorite and pacesetter Sower in third.

The Charles Town Oaks anchored a card of six stakes worth more than $550,000.

Late Night Pow Wow ($21.40) settled off the pace as Sower took the field through fractions of 22.97 seconds for the opening quarter and 46.78 for the half-mile, pushed along by Take Charge Paula on a track rated fast. Chauncey took the lead into the stretch, but Late Night Pow Wow was in hot pursuit. The two raced together in the lane, with Late Night Pow Wow pushing to the lead near the wire. The winner covered the seven furlongs around two turns in 1:24.37 and was given an 86 Beyer Speed Figure.

Fredy Peltroche was aboard for owner and trainer Javier Contreras.

“The way she worked, she could have run against anyone,” Contreras told track publicity at Charles Town. “I just told him [Peltroche] to take back and make one run at the right time. Turning for home, I got a little nervous when I thought she got stopped a bit. But she’s pretty strong. She’s the real deal.”

Late Night Pow Wow, who was bred in West Virginia, was winning her fifth straight race and overall is 7 for 8, with all her starts coming at Charles Town.

“Everybody has been behind us here,” Contreras said. “It’s been amazing. It’s my first graded stakes win. It’s a big deal. It might not be like the Derby or anything, but it’s my Derby.”

Late Night Pow Wow is a daughter of Fiber Sonde and was bred by John McKee. She earned $176,400 on Saturday night to push her bankroll to $288,650.

There were five scratches from the Charles Town Oaks: Split Time, Alberobello, Devine Mischief, Alter Moon, and Diamondcoat.