Charles Town is really making moves to get top horses to their track. What better way to do that then to card a $1 million handicap race for older horses? The Charles Town Classic at the distance of 9 furlongs over the bull ring track is worth a whopping $1 million. A field of ten of the best older horses will try and take down the lions share of that $1 million. Let’s take a look at the field and try and pick a winner. Before we do that I would like to note that two time defending winner Researcher is on the AE list. This is absolutely unfair and I hope the track reconsiders their drawing methods into the future.

#1 No Advantage- Don’t let that Grade 2 win at Laurel two races back fool you. It was a very weak field. He is very unlikely to get the distance and I will not use him.

#2 Tackleberry- He just doesn’t seem to lose. His latest wins in the Sunshine Millions Classic, Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship and Gulfstream Park Handicap proved that he is a very serious graded stakes contender. I’m a bit concerned about how he will do away from Gulfstream though. I’ll give him a big shot anyway. Look for him to be on the lead until he can’t hold them off any longer or hits the wire first.

#3 Tizway-  His ideal distance is a mile, but I don’t see any reason why he cant go an extra furlong here. Last year he won the Kelso Handicap by 5 and was only a neck behind Tackleberry in third last out in the Gulfstream Park Handicap. Look for him just off the pace. The son of Tiznow has as good a shot as anyone in this race to win.

#4 Acclamation- I wonder if he can take to the dirt surface because all of his best races have  been on turf. He won two graded races last year including the Grade 1 Charlie Whittingham Memorial. Look for him to be near the front under hot shot young jockey Christian Santiago-Reyes.

#5 Rule- He isn’t at his best going long. Not only that, but I think he is headed the wrong direction. On the bright side he had success over the bull ring track at Delta Downs where he won the Delta Jackpot in 2009.

#6 Inherit The Gold- The NY bred has won 5 in a row including the Grade 3 Excelsior last out. Switching to two turn races has really done the trick for him. The son of Gold Token is back on two weeks rest, but that shouldn’t bother him. Word has it he is kicking the barn down and is ready to roll. Expect him to be mid pack under jockey Eddie Castro. I’m making him my top pick to win.

#7 Gone Astray- Nice colt, but he is a cut below the best in here in terms of class. Not only that, but he hasn’t raced since November. I can’t endorse him.

#8 Duke of Mischief- This colt could really be any kind. On his best day he can win this without a problem, but he only runs huge races once in a while. I would be a little afraid to leave him off my tickets.

#9 Awesome Gem- Was second in this race last year and ended up winning the Hollywood Gold Cup two starts later. Since then he has regressed and I have to think the eight-year-old gelding might finally be showing some wear. He would have to do a complete 180 from his last race where he was third in allowance company.

#10 Game On Dude- He is favored here and for good reason. The son of Awesome Again was last seen winning the Santa Anita Handicap in which he survived a lengthy inquiry by the stewards. Bull ring champion rider David Flores gets the mount and that will really help him out. Will be no shock if he runs strong here.

So there you have it. My top selection to win the Charles Town Classic is Inherit The Gold. After him I like Tizway, Game On Dude and Tackleberry in that order. Who do you like?

The Jockey Club Gold Cup has a very deep field that includes Belmont and Travers Stakes winner Summer Bird. He has been working up a storm leading to this race. Older horse and Stephen Foster Handicap winner Macho Again will also be competing after finishing second to Rachel Alexandra last out in the Woodward. I’ll be wagering on Florida Derby winner Quality Road. While hindsight is always 20/20 he wasn’t the best bet last time. This time he will be making his third start since the lay off, and has experience at the distance. For a closer look at the Jockey Club Gold Cup check out my Breeders Cup Blog for the NTRA by clicking here.

Fabulous Strike will favored to win the Vosburgh Stakes for the third time in three years. He finished second last year after complications with a shoe. He has brutal speed, and can go fast while still hanging on late in the race. Trainer Todd Beattie is open to running in the Breeders Cup again, but he obviously wants to see how the gelding does here first. His biggest challenge will come in the form of Tom Fool Handicap winner Munnings. The three-year-old is highly regarded but is probably more optimal at seven furlongs. Go Go Shoot, Kodiak Kowboy and Peace Chant will also seek to take the cake in this race.

I loved her chances last out, and Careless Jewel was a dominating victor of the Alabama Stakes. She is going to be favored to take the Cotillion Stakes at Philadelphia Park this weekend. The gray filly has excellent early zip and will have a hell of a chance to win. There are many capable fillies in the race, but I like Cat Moves for a price. Already a Grade 1 winner early in her career, she has never raced this far. If she can translate her sprint form then she will be very tough in this one. Betting her is contingent with getting at least her 8/1 morning line price. I wouldn’t take less than that.

I’ve always thought that Music Note was an absolute monster, and last race was no exception. She won at a nice price in her first try sprinting, taking down Indian Blessing and Informed Decision. She will only have to beat four other fillies in the Bel Dame, but that doesn’t guarantee victory. Unbridled Belle has been hit and miss lately, but has enough talent to win this one on her best day. I’ll be rooting for Music Note, and I look forward to seeing her in this years Breeders Cup.

The Flower Bowl looks like a nice race. Pure Clan is the 3-1 ML second choice, and I expect a big run from her. A Grade 1 winner at three, Pure Clan has yet to show her true form this year. She finished third last out in the Beverley D last out, and will have to down the winner of that race (Dynaforce) to be successful here. Dynaforce has always looks like a nice mare, but had tailed off in form until last out. Kent Desormeaux worked his magic and won the Bev D at a nice price. It seems like everything he rides on the turf wins.

Gio Ponti would have to run a very bad race to lose the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational. He is easily the best turf horse in the country, and Christophe Clemente says he is the best horse he has ever trained. Perhaps a horse that has a shot at pulling the upset is Grand Couturier. He had been tailing off in form lately until winning a stakes race in New York last out. It would take a big effort from him or any other horse for that matter to take down Gio Ponti. I don’t’ see it happening.

Win Willy shocked the racing world earlier this year when he won the Rebel Stakes at a big price. He will try to win his second graded stakes race this weekend in the Indiana Derby. He has raced just once since the Kentucky Derby, but has looked sharp in the morning. Misremembered, winner of the Swaps Stakes, is the likely favorite. Gone Astray will be favored in the Ohio Derby after romping in the Pennsylvania Derby. That race also includes Join In The Dance, runner up in the Pennsylvania Derby. Gone Astray probably could have won the Indiana Derby which has a much larger purse and I find myself wondering why he wasn’t entered there.

I’m a bit disappointed with the quality of the Hawthorne Gold Cup, but excited at the same time because Awesome Gem might be able to get a marquee win. The old gelding has been running strong lately, particular when switching to the dirt at Emerald Downs two races back. His best competition will come in the form of Turfway Park Fall Championship winner Nite Light. I hope that Night Lite sets a blistering pace and Awesome Gem is able to run him down in the late stages of the race.

This is one weekend of racing that you don’t want to miss. I had no problem at all writing over 1,000 words for this because there is SO MUCH happening this weekend. I probably didn’t say enough, but I digress. I’m looking forward to the Jockey Club Gold Cup the most. I hope Quality Road runs a great race like he is capable of doing. Who do you like in this weekends big races? Leave a comment and let me know what your thinking!