Moonlit Song, a dominant figure among West Virginia-bred 3-year-old fillies, will challenge older female statebreds for the first time in Saturday night’s $50,000 Fancy Buckles Stakes at Charles Town.
A winner in her three most recent starts by a combined 13 1/2 lengths, Moonlit Song will be racing at the same 4 1/2-furlong distance as when she easily won the Its Binn too Long four weeks ago.
Her competition includes Jacky’s Notion, who won the 2016 Fancy Buckles as a 3-year-old, and the 5-year-old Nay’s Back, beaten three-quarters of a length in this stakes a year ago.
Fancy Buckles, Race 7
KEY CONTENDERS
Moonlit Song, by Fiber Sonde
Last 3 Beyers: 70-59-68
◗ Nobody has come close to her in three starts since February, and she gets seven pounds from her older rivals.
Jacky’s Notion, by Great Notion
Last 3 Beyers: 62-65-69
◗ Her owner and trainer, John A. Casey, has won this stakes four times since 2012, including three times with Down Town Allen.
◗ Jacky’s Notion is back with statebreds after six straight starts against open company.
Nay’s Back, by Garnered
Last 3 Beyers: 62-72-70
◗ Failed to fire while making her first start since January, but her two previous races, both wins at this distance, stamp her as a prime contender.
◗ She has been in the exacta in nine of 12 starts in ultra-short sprints.
Lucky Candy, by Luftikus
Last 3 Beyers: 68-61-61
◗ Looked good winning an optional $10,000 claimer against open company going 6 1/2 furlongs two weeks ago.
◗ She finished fourth twice and seventh the last three times she ran in statebred stakes.