T Rex Express set to finally grab brass ring in My Sister Pearl

T Rex Express will attempt to nail down her first stakes win Saturday night, when she starts as the probable favorite in the $50,000 My Sister Pearl at Charles Town. She has run second in her last four stakes appearances, and third in her other one.

“She’s been knocking on the door all her life,” trainer Jeff Runco said. “Hopefully, we can get one done this week.”

T Rex Express is part of a seven-horse field for the My Sister Pearl, a 1 1/8-mile race restricted to fillies and mares bred in West Virginia. Also set to start is Romantic Cork, winner of the West Virginia Breeders Classic Distaff on Oct. 14 at Charles Town.

T Rex Express last raced on the same Oct. 14 card, finishing second in the $112,000 West Virginia Cavada Breeders Classic for owner David Raim. She stalked the pace and finished 2 1/2 lengths behind winner Moonlit Song and earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 76.

“She ran her race, got a great number,” Runco said. “She did well up against a horse that’s been very good this year, Moonlit Song. That filly’s on top of her game pretty good.”

Moonlit Song has gone 8 for 11 in 2017 and won her third straight stakes in the Cavada Breeders Classic. T Rex Express played runner-up to Moonlit Song in another of those stakes, the $51,000 Sadie Hawkins in September at Charles Town.

Both of the recent stakes starts from T Rex Express came over seven furlongs. She will be making her first start beyond that distance in the three-turn My Sister Pearl.

“It’s her first time stretching out, and there are reasons why she should stretch out,” Runco said.

“She’s got speed, can be closer to the pace on Saturday. I’m kind of excited to stretch her out.”

Gerald Almodovar has the mount from post 7.