In honor of the day-night racing doubleheaders my dad and I used to pull at Laurel and Charles Town back in the 1980s in his Ford Thunderbird, I’m donning the throwback uniforms Saturday for a Maryland Million-West Virginia Breeders Classics handicapping daily double.

I’ve had the pleasure of being at both events multiple times, and no matter the state or the all-star program, a horseplayer always has to be cognizant of dominant horses that are bound to rule their respective divisions. It’s the nature of the beast, so pick your spots shrewdly, keep your multi-race tickets focused where the obvious spots appear and spread when there’s a greener outlook.

Horsesplayers with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet take advantage of the Saturday promotions. The Maryland Million Classic is our Saturday Bet $25, Get $5 race in the Breeders’ Cup Bankroll Builder series. With #5 Post Time an expected huge favorite in search of an 11-for-11 Laurel record, this might be an easy spot to churn that $25 and take the $5 bonus money toward Breeders’ Cup. All single-race bet types offered on an eligible race are valid during this promotion (WPS, EX, TRI, SUPER).

Meanwhile, a $5,000 Hit & Split at Charles Town will be offered on the late pick 4 and pick 5 ($2,500 each).

Here are my key shots for both state-bred championship programs.


Laurel: Race 2 | 12:03 pm ET | Maryland Million Turf Sprint

#7 Noah Chance (15-1 morning line odds) could be an upset factor on the front end in a manageable, 8-horse field with very little early pace. Local favorites #3 Witty and #1 Had to Have Him may be compromised with deep-closing styles, and #8 Whenigettoheaven will be well-backed off big recent Beyers, but didn’t want to go by anyone in this race last year when unable to make the front. Speed jockey Xavier Perez gets a chance to speed-pop these at a price. Win bet #7. Exacta key-box 7 with 8,3,1.


Laurel: Race 5 | 1:51 pm ET | Maryland Million Lassie

#5 Share Success (4-1 morning line odds) debuted a winner over this track last month and has 3 works right on cue for the long-determined season goal. You don’t spend $115,000 on a daughter of $5,000 stallion Engage without some expectation of early return. Owned by the same connections as Preakness winner and star juvenile Afleet Alex, note this filly’s dam Stickingtogether was runner-up in the 2019 Maryland Million Lassie as well. Second-dam Who Did It And Run won the Grade 2 Jersey Derby over the boys and was a debut winner with early game in the late 1990s. Win bet #5.


Charles Town: Race 2 | 7:32 pm ET | WV Lottery Breeders Classic

#1 Marilyn Moonroe (5-1 morning line odds) is going to eliminate all the variables in this 3-year-old filly division. She’s dash speed from the rail and heavy favorite #5 Zip Start hasn’t been exactly zippy out of the gate on multiple occasions. If the favorite leaves flat-footed, this filly might give her the slip. She took on the multiple stakes-placed elder filly Lona Lee last time and was just second-best late. Back with the sophomores and no excuses from the fence. Win bet #1. Daily Double 1-3 to Duncan Idaho in the next, who just doesn’t lose CT dashes.


Charles Town: Race 5 | 9:02 pm ET | WVBC Distaff

#9 Impressionism (12-1 morning line odds) may appear to be one of the least likely winners on the card for the super-connections of Jeff Runco and Arnaldo Bocachica, who historically own this program. But the 1-1/8 miles distance is a huge separator for these fillies and mares who are a combined 5: 0-1-1 at the trip. The favorites may duke it out as it appears on paper and wilt late. Charles Town has run just 37 races at this distance the past 5 years; Runco has won 12 of them, while Bocachica has 17 of the victories. Her effort 2 races back on the Mountaineer turf is the kind of finish that could win this. Win-place bet #9.


Charles Town: Race 7 |10:02 pm ET | WVBC Onion Juice

#2 No Change (5-2 morning line odds) is the defending champion in the Onion Juice, the race named for the inaugural WV Breeders Classic winner and local legend of the 1980s that I revered in my teens. In the ’24 edition, No Change beat a tougher cast that included this year’s Classic favorite Teachintherelease, a horse this gelding has been splitting decisions with of late. Inside draws have been a boon for this one, who starts slow and can benefit from saving ground before unwinding on the backstretch. Win bet #2. Daily Double 2-7 to the late running The Sky Is Falling, who gets a delicious pace set-up for her rally in the next race, the Cavada WVBC.

For more on the West Virginia Breeders Classic main event, please see my Race of the Week analysis.