Vodka With a Twist leads field of 10 in Charles Town Oaks

A competitive field of 10 will contest the Grade 2, $750,000 Charles Town Oaks at Charles Town on Friday's undercard of the West Virginia track's marquee night, featuring the $1 million Charles Town Classic (G2). 

 

Vodka With a Twist is the 2-1 morning-line favorite for the Oaks. The daughter of Thousand Words boasts a pair of Grade 1 placings, including a second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. Trained by Phil D’Amato, she tried turf last out without much success, but prior to that ran admirably behind next-out Grade 1 winner Kilwin in the Leslie’s Lady at Churchill Down. Luis Saez will ride from post 7.

 

 

Saffie Joseph Jr., who won the 2024 Oaks with Mystic Lake, has four entrants in this year’s edition. His top contender is Indy Bay, winner of the Jersey Girl Stakes at Saratoga. The Take Charge Indy filly finished third in the Victory Ride (G3), also at Saratoga, and will have Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard from post 1.

 

“We take the blame for her last race,” Joseph said. “We brought her back a little too quickly after a big effort in the Jersey Girl. We’ve regrouped, and she’s doing well. The two turns is a new variable to deal with, but she should be right there.”

 

Joseph’s other three entrants are difficult to split on paper, and in some cases, on the racetrack. Andrea and Luvumorgan have traded wins in their last two races, the Game Face and the Azalea, both at Gulfstream Park. Paradise City, third in the Iowa Oaks at Prairie Meadows, breaks between them.

 

Secret Faith brings an impressive 8-for-10 lifetime record to the Oaks, and all but one of her wins have come in Louisiana-bred company. Rounding out the field are Not Too Late, Top, Zip Start and Volleyballprincess.

 

The Charles Town Oaks is scheduled as race 10, with a post time of 9:44 p.m. EDT.