S’maverlous, International Star return in Charles Town Classic
S’maverlous and International Star, the one-two finishers in the G2 New Orleans Handicap in their last race, returns today to face 8 others in the G2 $1,250,000 Charles Town Classic at 1 1/8 miles.
Positioned between the last weekend of Kentucky Derby preps and Derby day, the Charles Town Classic has become a targeted race for older runners with plenty of back class in their past performance running lines.
Leading the field for the 2016 Charles Town Classic is two-time winner Donworth who’ll run in the colors of Reddam Racing LLC for trainer Doug O’Neill who sends him out for his third race of the year. He finished third in the G2 San Antonio off an eight month layoff in February. In the 1 1/8 miles San Antonio he set grueling fractions through 6 furlongs with the eventual winner Hoppertunity and tired to finish 1/2 length back of runner-up Imperative who goes today in the Classic.
Imperative, winner of the 2014 Charles Town Classic and runner-up last year, is back seeking his first win since this race in ’14. He’s a 6YO son of Bernardini with a history of second place finishes and only three wins from 30 career starts. Mike Smith who finished second with him in the San Antonio is back aboard to try and rally for the win.
Charles Town Classic Top Contenders
The two runners with the most upside, S’maverlous and International Star, will be sent out by trainer Mike Maker after finishing first and second in the G2 New Orleans Handicap at Fair Grounds on Louisiana Derby day.
S’maverlous, a 6YO homebred by Tiz Wonderful, has 8 wins from 20 starts and earned a lifetime high 100 Beyer in the 1 1/8 miles N.O. Handicap going two-turns for only the second time in his career. Jose Lezcano will be back in the irons for the Classic.
International Star is a 4YO son of 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus and was on the Road to the Kentucky Derby in 2015 before being sidelined with a hairline fracture in his left knee. Before the injury he had won three in a row at Fair Grounds culminating with the win in the 2015 Louisiana Derby. He returned in January of this year to win the Louisiana Handicap but followed that effort with a last of 4 finish in the G3 Mineshaft as the heavy favorite. Toss that effort and he was moved up to second after a disqualification in the New Orleans Handicap. A race in which he was 2 to 3 wide going into the second turn, and 5 wide at the 1/4 pole after breaking from the rail.
Look for big efforts from both Maker runners S’maverlous at 10 to 1 and International Star who’s the proverbial “any kind” line at 8 to 1.
Click here to get free past performances for the Charles Town Classic.