Willy D’s looks like a million bucks, wins Charles Town Classic

New millionaire Willy D’s proved too stubborn for his competition Friday night. After finishing second last year, he led from gate to wire and held off two former winners to triumph in the Grade 2, $1 million Charles Town Classic.

Owned by Peter Proscia’s Paradise Farms Corporation and Case Chambers and trained by Mike Maker, 5-year-old gelding Willy D’s (7-1) carried jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. through splits of 23.94, 47.25, 1:11.66 and 1:36.96 on his way to a final time of 1:50.68 going 1 1/8 miles around three turns of the fast main track.

Click here for Charles Town entries and results.

Banishing (5-1), who was out to defend his 2025 victory, held second throughout and lost by 1 3/4 lengths. Francisco Arrieta rode the 6-year-old gelding for trainer David Jacobson.

Skippylongstocking (3-1), trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.’s 7-year-old post-time favorite who won the Charles Town Classic in 2023 and 2024, closed from fifth by digging in down the stretch to finish third under Tyler Gaffalione.

Prince of Power (27-1) came in fourth in the field of 10 horses, ages 3 and up. Barbadian Runner (7-2), Gigante (12-1), Dragoon Guard (9-2), Xcellent Start (150-1), Bullard (11-1) and Full Screen (7-1) rounded out the finish in that order.

Willy D’s paid $16.40, $8.40 and $4.20; Banishing $6.80 and $3.80; and Skippylongstocking $4.80.

This was the third 2026 stakes victory for Willy D’s. He finished first by three-quarters of a length March 21 in the Kentucky Cup Classic (G3) on the synthetic surface at Turfway Park. He got up by a neck over Coal Battle on May 2 as the 3-2 favorite in the Lake Ouachita at Oaklawn. Willy D’s came into Friday’s race off a last-place result in the Stephen Foster (G1), which was run on a sloppy track June 27 at Churchill Downs.

A gelding by Lookin At Lucky, Willy D’s was claimed for $50,000 in March 2025.  Friday’s $599,664 first-place money pushed his career earnings to $1,571,672. He improved his record to 29: 8-7-2.