Favored Book Review, invading from New York for trainer Chad Brown, took down the $400,000 Charles Town Oaks with a big sweeping move from the back of the pack on the night of Sept. 22 at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races (VIDEO).
Javier Castellano, who competed earlier in the day at Belmont Park, drove 7-5 pick Book Review to a 1 3/4-length victory for owners and breeders Gary and Mary West. The 3-year-old Giant's Causeway filly, seventh while well backed in the Test Stakes (gr. I) last month at Saratoga Race Course, ran the seven furlongs around two turns on the Charles Town bullring in 1:24.65 over a fast track.
Book Review bumped early with Say A Novena and raced eighth in the 10-horse field of sophomore fillies as 23-1 outsider Swift Artist set the early pace over second choice Beautiful But Blue and Holiday Soiree. Swift Artist posted fractions of :23.26 and :46.67 to lead narrowly before Beautiful But Blue, on the outside, took over approaching the quarter pole. Meanwhile, Book Review, sent into action on the outside leaving the backstretch, was quickly picking off rivals.
A willing Book Review overtook the leaders in the stretch and drew off nicely under encouragement from Castellano. Holiday Soiree, always in contention for jockey Jon Court, edged Beautiful But Blue and Joel Rosario for second by half a length.
Castellano said he was prepared if Book Review had problems at the start.
"She usually doesn't break that well. The last two times she hasn't really broke," He said. "This time she broke a lot better than normal but still not good enough to be real close going into the first turn. I saved enough ground on the first turn to be able to go wide and make the run around the second turn. She just kept giving tonight."
The victory improved Book Review's record to 3-2-1 in seven starts with earnings of $353,455. Out of the Distorted Humor filly Clever Babe, the chestnut filly broke her maiden in her third start by nearly five lengths at Belmont Park May 20. She beat first-level allowance rivals at Saratoga Race Course July 20, leading to her start in the seven-furlong Test. In that race, Book Review broke outward and was bumped soon after the start, and trailed by 15 lengths while last at the first call.
Book Review paid $4.80, $3.20, $2.80. Holiday Soiree, fourth in the Gardenia Stakes (gr. III) at Ellis Park Aug. 11, returned $12.20 and $8 while capping a $64 exacta. Beautiful But Blue, also third in the Test last time for trainer Tom Bush, paid $3.20 to show.
Amie's Dini took fourth, followed by Say a Novena, Jazzy Idea, Well Kept, Defy Gravity, Swift Artist, and Doe.