People of a certain age remember when Charles Town was home to some of the cheapest claimers in the country. Not anymore, and certainly not on Saturday, when Charles Town offers by far the richest race of the weekend – the Grade 2, $1.25 million Charles Town Classic.

Other races of note Saturday include the Grade 2, $200,000 Californian and the Grade 3, $100,000 San Juan Capistrano at Santa Anita; the Grade 2, $250,000 Elkhorn at Keeneland; and the Grade 3, $250,000 Illinois Derby at Hawthorne.

Charles Town Classic

Aqueduct | Race 7 | Post Time 4:44 p.m. (ET) | Go to the FREE TimeformUS PPs

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Race 5:

Nut Nut (#8)

Has faced tougher fields than the one he meets here.

Was racing on a dead rail last time.

Should appreciate the cutback to a one-turn mile.

6-1 on ML

Race 6:

St. Louie (#1)

According to the Pace Projector, his tactical speed gives him an advantage in a race lacking much early pace.

Was completely stymied in traffic last time and might have won had he ever gotten clear.

Aqueduct | Race 7 | Post Time 4:44 p.m. (ET) | Go to the FREE TimeformUS PPs

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Race 6

Five Star Rampage (#4)

Has run better than it appears in a few of her recent starts.

Gets a positive rider switch to John Velazquez.

DRF Formulator Fact: Over the past 5 years, Jimmy Jerkens is 9 for 38 (24%) for a $2.24 ROI with dirt runners stretching out for the first time.

7-2 on ML

:: Get TimeformUS PPs for these races at Aqueduct

Former Giants coach Bill Parcells most famous quote is probably, “You are what your record says you are.” Despite what we might think of our performance wagering on races, what we do is very visible to us. The beauty of our sport is that our record is something we can review. Some weeks we stink, and no matter how much we try to rationalize our performance, the bottom line is staring us in the face, telling us how we did and who we are.

AARONIC BLESSING
Trainer: Suzanne Drake
Last race: April 15, 9th
Finish: 9th by 14 1/2
Beyer: 32
The speedy 4-year-old missed the break from the outside post and then made a wide bid into contention on the turn before tiring as the favorite in his comeback. It was his first outing in eight months, and he definitely merits a mulligan.

April 14

SHARP SAMURAI
Trainer: Mark Glatt
Last race: April 6, 7th
Finish: 1^st by 2 1/4
Beyer: 87
Now 2 for 3 since he was gelded, this 3-year-old crushed a turf allowance route despite an imperfect start. He pressed a strong pace and came away late. He could return in the Singletary Stakes on May 6.

Oaklawn

G1 Arkansas Derby
1/2 119
3/4 114
Fin 117
Top 3: Classic Empire 115, Conquest Mo Money 116, Lookin At Lee 113
Note: 2-year-old Eclipse champion won in only second 2017 start - possible Kentucky Derby favorite;  fifth-  and sixth- place finisher Malagacy and Untrapped had really tough, wide trips and ran better than looked.