It was an exciting Friday at Charles Town. Skippylongstocking wins in a gate to wire five-length romp in the 2023 Charles Town Classic Stakes, while Vahva swoops late to deny Undervalued Asset and Late Frost in a thriller finish in the Charles Town Oaks.
The Charles Town Classic Stakes
Grade 2 – Purse $1,000,000 – 1 1/8 miles – Dirt – 3-Year-Olds and Up
Skippylongstocking had been highly tried in all of the top two-year-old races and was at one point touted as a Kentucky Derby contender but that never really emerged.
However, there was to be a decisive victory at Charles Town on Friday night as he took his career earnings to $1.46 million and provided trainer Saffie Joseph Jnr with just his second winner of the Charles Town Classic at the nineteenth attempt.
Skippylongstocking was heavily bet late on and was sent off the chalk ahead of his rival Giant Game who he had finished second to in the 2023 Cornhusker Stakes at Prairie Meadows.
Charles Town Classic Stakes Race Video
@horseracingtote Skippylongstocking wins the 2023 Charles Town Classic #horseracingtips #Horseracing #Sports #Horsesoftiktok #Horse #Horsetok #FYP
♬ original sound – horseracingtote – horseracingtote
Skippylongstocking seems to love the West Virginia air as this was his second major win in the state after taking the 2022 West Virginia Derby last year.
The race itself was a breeze, as he broke sharply, got to the front, and never saw another foe. He shook loose at the top of the stretch to romp home by 5 lengths with barn buddy O’Connor in second, Dash Attack in third, and Muad’dib rolling late for fourth.
2023 Charles Town Classic Stakes Race Payouts
| Horse | Win | Place | Show |
| 1. Skippylongstocking | $4.80 | $3.20 | $2.60 |
| 2. O’Connor | $8.00 | $5.30 | |
| 3. Dash Attack | $8.20 |
WINNING TIME: 1 min 51.37 secs
The Charles Town Oaks
Grade 3 – Purse $750,000 – 7 furlongs – Dirt – 3-Year-Old Fillies
It was a night of “firsts” as Vahva claimed her first stakes victory and provided handler Cherie DeVaux with a winner at Charles Town with her very first runner at the track.
Vahva had beaten the well-fancied Undervalued Asset when these foes met in an Allowance contest at Churchill Downs earlier this year but extended that here.
Vahva came into the race with an ordinary record but took her third career victory in nine starts and the Gun Runner filly was given a masterful ride by John Velazquez.
As the gates opened it was the longshot Late Frost who got to the lead, while the chalk Hoosier Philly was slow at the gate and was struggling from that point.
Charles Town Oaks Race Video
@horseracingtote Vahva dominates in the 2023 Charles Town Oaks #horseracingtips #Horseracing #Sports #Horsesoftiktok #Horse #Horsetok #FYP
♬ original sound – horseracingtote – horseracingtote
Around the clubhouse turn, there were traffic problems, and as horses spun wide, Velazquez made a race-winning maneuver to go inside, and Vahva was in third position down the backstretch behind Late Frost and Undervalued Asset.
They hit the top of the stretch and the leaders battled gamely neck and neck but could not hold off the late swoop from Vahva who hit the lead a sixteenth from the wire.
Undervalued Asset held Late Frost for the second spot and these three were nearly seven lengths clear of Metaphysical in fourth.
2023 Charles Town Oaks Race Payouts
| Horse | Win | Place | Show |
| 1. Vahva | $4.80 | $3.00 | $2.60 |
| 2. Undervalued Asset | $4.20 | $3.40 | |
| 3. Late Frost | $13.80 |
WINNING TIME: 1 min 25.01 secs
Stay tuned for the latest Breeders’ Cup Odds. Check out the World’s major Racetrack entries & Breeders Cup Challenge Series news!
Sign-up and get up to a 10% horse rebate. We offer the best promotions! Terms & Conditions here!
Raise your winning opportunities with our Horse Betting Guide. We have a guide for all levels! Beginners, Intermediate Handicappers!
Follow us on Social Media for more 2023 Charles Town Classic Stakes updates!