Saturday's $1,000,000 Charles Town Classic has attracted a field of fourteen but only ten can run around the half mile oval and
Rule is proven over the bullring configuration.
Rule, a Winstar Farm homebred trained by Todd Pletcher, burst onto the 2010 Kentucky Derby scene with back-to-back stakes wins around the tight turns at Delta Downs. He subsequently captured the Sam Davis at Tampa Bay and nver made the Derby after going to the sidelines after a show finish in the Florida Derby. He started off the year with a pair of graded placings in the Hal's Hope and Donn and disappointed in the Gulfstream Park Handicap when last seen on March 12. His ability to handle a tricky surface gives him an edge in this interesting contest.
Inherit The Gold is back in two weeks for James Hooper. The New York-bred gelding has rattled off five straight and must be respected in his current form.
Game On Dude won a controverial renewal of the Big Cap at Santa Anita on March 6. Bob Baffert reaches out for David Flores and the veteran rider has plenty of experience on the bullring.
Tackleberry has won three straight and eight of his last ten in Florida. The overachieving gelded son of Montbrook looms a pace factor at the very least.
Tizway finished a neck and a nose behind Tackleberry at Gulfstream on March 12 and does his best work up to a mile around one turn.
Shug McGaughey sends out Gone Astray for his first start in more than four months. He clipped heels early and never got involved in this race last year and probably needs the outing.
The enigmatic Duke of Mischief is capable of big efforts from time to time and is a threat to land a share or maybe more at nice odds.
Veteran gelding Awesome Gem has never won at this distance but he landed the place in this affair last year and received a nice turf prep at Golden Gate on April 2. He is capable of rallying for a minor award.
Long distance turf specialist Acclamation makes the trip from California for Don Warren. He meets other speed and could be a pace casualty.
No Advantage upset the General George at Laurel in Febraury and is a 3-time winner at Charles Town.
Quindici Man, Schoolyard Dreams, Researcher, and Icabad Crane are stuck on the also-eligible list and would need defections to make it into the body of the race.