Rise Up romps as heavy favorite in Wild and Wonderful
Rise Up, returning to Charles Town for the first time since scoring a 10 3/4-length victory in the Robert Hilton Stakes two years ago, justified his status as the 1-9 favorite in the $100,000 Wild and Wonderful Stakes by winning with ease.
After facing some brief early pressure from Demon Buster, Rise Up spurted free under Javier Castellano and rolled to an easy 6 1/4-length victory in the seven-furlong stakes for 3-year-olds and up.
Based in Kentucky with trainer Tom Amoss, Rise Up ($2.40) completed the distance in 1:24.84 with his sixth stakes victory and 10th lifetime win in 27 starts. He has now earned $1,134,925.
Another Kentucky-based horse, Grande Shores, rallied from last of five to get second. I Came to Party finished third.
Elsewhere on the undercard:
◗Unrideabull ($13.20), a winner in his career debut three weeks ago, rolled to a six-length victory under Gustavo Larrosa in the $50,000 Henry Mercer Memorial for 2-year-old West Virginia-breds. He ran 4 1/2 furlongs in 52.88 seconds.
The Great Ronaldo, the 7-5 favorite, clipped heels with Anywhere But Here and fell early in the race. Anywhere But Here, who finished second, was disqualified and placed last.
◗Unaquoi ($10), coming off a maiden victory three weeks ago, captured the $50,000 Rachel's Turn for West Virginia-bred 2-year-old fillies by 1 1/2 lengths under Jose Montano. She completed 4 1/2 furlongs in 53.84 seconds.
◗In the Fairway ($4.40) outfinished Ello Govna and Hidden Canyon in a three-way photo for first in the $50,000 Frank Gall Memorial for West Virginia-breds. Ridden by Arnaldo Bocachica, In the Fairway finished a neck in front of Ello Govna after seven furlongs in 1:17.16. It was another neck back to Hidden Canyon in third.
◗Eutaw Street ($10.40), making his stakes debut, won the $50,000 It’s Only Money Stakes for West Virginia-breds to improve to 3 for 3 this season. Ridden by Oscar Flores, the 4-year-old Eutaw Street ran 4 1/2 furlongs in 52.38 seconds and won by three-quarters of a length over Hear the Chatter.
◗The 4-year-old filly Navy Ribbon ($14), adding blinkers after her seven-race unbeaten streak ended last month, defeated Candy Man’s Girl by a neck after dueling throughout the seven-furlong, $50,000 Sadie Hawkins Stakes for West Virginia-bred fillies and mares. Navy Ribbon, the third winner on the card for trainer Jeff Runco, completed the distance in 1:27.84 for jockey Christian Hiraldo.
◗Charitable Annuity ($2.20), facing just two opponents, prepped for next month’s $500,000 West Virginia Breeders’ Classic with a half-length win over Start Line in the $30,000 Roger Ramey Handicap. Ridden by Antonio Lopez, Charitable Annuity ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:55.23.