Two defending champions are back to try to recapture glory in the $1 million Charles Town Classic (G2) at the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in West Virginia. Popular Imperative won the race in 2014 and again in 2017, while Something Awesome won it last year. They are part of the 10-horse field – with one also eligible – set to go 1 1/8 miles on the tricky six-furlong oval.
The Charles Town Classic is a popular destination for some of racing’s older stars; Game On Dude won it in 2013, and the brilliant Shared Belief was injured there in 2015 as the heavy favorite. It ended up being the last start of his career; in the same race, Imperative ran second. Top trainers and riders have won it: Todd Pletcher has won it twice, Bob Baffert once, and jockeys such as Mike Smith (2013), Kent Desormeaux (2014), and Javier Castellano (2012, 2016, and 2017) have all scored.
Imperative had a lengthy layoff between his 2017 Charles Town Classic win an the Philip Iselin (G3) 14 months later, when he made his return to the races. He has not won since then, but is two for four over the track with a third, which is more experience than any horse in the race but one.
Something Awesome hasn’t won since taking this race last year when he was riding a three-race win streak. The eight-year-old son of Awesome Again will be ridden by Edgar Prado, who was aboard for last year’s victory.
In addition to the defending winners, the 2019 field is made up of Zia Park Derby winner Nanoosh, grade 1 placed Mongolian Groom, grade 2 winner Diamond King, Saratoga stakes winner Rally Cry for Pletcher, local hero Runnin’toluvya who is riding an eight-race win streak, and multiple stakes winners War Story and Unbridled Juan.
The race also features the return to Discreet Lover, who upset the grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup in September at 45-1. He has not been seen since the Breeders’ Cup Classic in November, and will be making his 46thlifetime start. He was sixth in this race last year.
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