Caixa Eletronica wins Charles Town Classic

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Charles Town, WV (Sports Network) - Caixa Eletronica, ridden by Javier Castellano, blew past defending winner Duke of Mischief to capture the fourth running of the $1 million Charles Town Classic on Saturday night at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races. The seven-year-old chestnut horse is trained by Todd Pletcher for owner Mike Repole.

Run over 1 1/8-miles on Charles Town's six-furlong main track, the Classic drew a field of 10 older thoroughbreds.

Setting the pace was 2011 Louisiana Derby winner Pants On Fire. Pressing the pace was Skipshot followed closely by Tres Borrachos, 9-5 favorite Tackleberry and Caixa Eletronica.

With a quarter-mile to run Duke of Mischief powered to the lead from the outside and was quickly joined by Caixa Eletronica. Duke of Mischief, 12-1 at post-time, was to the inside with Caixa Eletronica driving down the middle of the track.

Caixa Eletronica took the lead with a furlong to go and drove to a three- length victory over the 2011 race winner. Longshot Mister Marti Gras was third followed by Tackleberry, Uh Oh Bango, Pants On Fire, Tres Borrachos, Norvsky, Skipshot and Redding Colliery.

Caixa Eletronica completed the Classic in 1:50.28 on a fast track.

The seven-year-old adds $600,000 to his earnings. A winner of 17 of 52 career starts, Caixa Eletronica has lifetime earnings of better than $1.1 million.

This year Caixa Eletronica began with a win in the Rise Jim Stakes at Aqueduct. He followed with a third at Aqueduct in the Toboggan as the 2-5 favorite and in February was sixth at Laurel Park in the General George Handicap. His biggest win last year came in the Westchester Handicap at Belmont Park on April 30.

Earlier in the day, Castellano rode Howe Great to a fifth-place finish in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in Kentucky.

Caixa Eletronica returned $18.80, $9.80 and $6.60. Duke Of Mischief paid $12.40 and $7.60, and Mister Marti Gras paid $8.20 to show.