Tarantino headed to Charles Town Classic

Tarantino, who has been second or third in eight graded stakes since January 2021 but has yet to win a race at that level, worked a half-mile in 48.40 seconds at Del Mar on Friday in advance of an expected start in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic in West Virginia on Aug. 22.

“That’s the penciled-in plan,” trainer Peter Eurton said.

Friday’s workout was the first for Tarantino since he finished third in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar on July 26. Earlier this year, Tarantino was third in the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita in January and second in the Grade 3 Essex Stakes at Oaklawn Park in March.

The $1 million Charles Town Classic is run at 1 1/8 miles, and is the richest race at Charles Town. Tarantino, a 7-year-old gelding who races for David Bernsen and Rockingham Ranch, has won 4 of 31 starts and earned $552,420 in a career that began with a win at Del Mar in September 2020.

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