Officiating being pointed to Charles Town Classic

Officiating conquered two turns last Saturday in the Grade 3, $300,000 Cornhusker Handicap at Prairie Meadows.

Now, he’ll attempt to get three turns.

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said Officiating is being pointed to the Grade 2, $1 million Charles Town Classic on Aug. 26. The 1 1/8-mile race is run around three turns at Charles Town.

“He has very good tactical speed and you want to have some speed for that race,” Joseph said Wednesday.

Officiating charted some new territory with his win in the Cornhusker, a 1 1/8-mile race for which he earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 92. There were a few reasons Officiating traveled from New York to Prairie Meadows for the Cornhusker.

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“It was good timing,” Joseph said. “He never went two turns on the dirt before, had run decent going two turns on the grass. We wanted to give it a try. If it worked out, it would give us other options.”

Joseph, who trains Officiating for breeder Vegso Racing Stable, said he felt good about the distance test for Officiating as he is a son of Blame and a half-brother to champion Caledonia Road, who won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Joseph said Officiating arrived at Saratoga on Wednesday. Officiating is a multiple Grade 3 winner who has now earned more than $500,000.