Outside of a few disappointing efforts, Stanford has been a very consistent racehorse in both his running style and ability to hit the board in top company. One thing had eluded him—a graded stakes victory—but that changed in his 11th start April 23. The 4-year-old Malibu Moon colt picked a perfect time to break through: the $1.25 million Charles Town Classic (gr. II). Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Javier Castellano, Stanford was quick to take the lead from post 7 in the 10-horse field and never looked back en route to a two-length win over Page McKenney, who was seeking his fifth consecutive stakes. “He had a fantastic trip,” Pletcher said. “He broke very well and got the position we hoped for going to the first turn. He was on cruise control from there.” Owned by Stonestreet Stables, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith, Stanford nursed a half-length lead through the first mile of the threeturn, 1 1/8-mile event at the West Virginia track. He was shadowed throughout by Page McKenney in what amounted to a two-horse race from start to finish.
Three California shippers—all of which exited the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I)—didn’t have the best of trips. Donworth, who finished third, was in tight at the start and hung wide for most of the race; Imperative, the 2014 Charles Town Classic winner and second last year, rallied from ninth; and Hard Aces, who also raced from behind, was steadied a few times. Castellano—who also won the Robert Hilton Memorial Stakes for 3-year-olds with Dig Deep, a Candy Ride colt owned by Colts Neck Stables and trained by Alan Goldberg—previously rode Stanford four other times, with a win and three seconds. “I really like the way he did it,” Castellano said. “He broke sharply and there wasn’t much speed in the race. He usually just falls into position, and I’m satisfied with how he did it today.” In his previous start, Stanford finished a head behind Blofeld in the Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. II). He began his season with a second-place effort in the Fred W. Hooper Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park. Pletcher said connections haven’t decided on the colt’s next start, but the June 11 Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I), a one-turn-mile event with a $1.25 million purse, is under consideration. Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm from the Distorted Humor mare Rosy Humor, Stanford was a $550,000 purchase at the 2014 Barretts March selected 2-year-olds in training sale. Pennsylvania-bred runners had a big day at Charles Town. Page McKenney, by Eavesdropper, earned $234,000 for his second in the Classic, while Harry Nye’s 5-year-old Raging Smoke (More Smoke) won the secondary feature, the Sugar Maple Stakes for fillies and mares. BH