Peck: Pick four for Charles Town Classic card

The Grade 2 Charles Town Classic is the centerpiece of Charles Town’s Saturday card (and meet), with Stanford the 8-5 morning-line favorite. But if you can beat him – and that's what this ticket will try to do – the value will be there.

RACE 9: POSEIDON'S PRIZE has the best last-out Beyer Speed Figure in the field, and he'll likely win this if he's able to run back to that figure here. COOL ARROW has been in some tough spots of late, and he has license to improve today. LIAR'S DICE was an easy winner in his latest, and that 91 Beyer he posted two back of course gives him strong credibility. FARLEY switches surfaces and adds blinkers for trainer Doug O'Neill. HIGH ROLLER turns back and should fare better at this distance.

A's: 1, 3, 4
B's: 5, 9
C's: NONE

RACE 10: MIA TORRI was outrun in the opening stages of her latest, the Inside Information, a race that featured a good amount of speed. This appears to be a much better pace scenario for her, and that should enable her to run to her best figures, which are plenty good enough to win this.

A's: 4
B's: NONE
C's: NONE

RACE 11: With a couple of high-quality speeds in the field, the Charles Town Classic seems likely to set up well for those horses looking to come from off the pace. That includes SUNNY RIDGE, who has won two straight, albeit with the aid of favorable race flows each time. But the one to beat could be IMPERATIVE, who figures to move forward off a dull effort in the Santa Anita Handicap, where he may have been overmatched. WAR STORY disappointed in the Hooper, but he's another who figures to be in ideal position behind a quick, contested pace.

A's: 5, 6
B's: 2
C's: NONE

RACE 12: SLIP THE CABLE makes his seasonal debut, but his trainer does very well with horses off the bench. He clearly loves this track, and he has only one loss in six starts at this distance. That loss came to CHARITABLE ANNUITY, another who turns back in distance, and his trainer excels with this type. START LINE could be good enough to threaten the top pair with the right type of trip.

A's: 5, 8, 9
B's: NONE
C's: NONE