Saffie captures prestigious Charles Town Oak for second straight year

CHARLES TOWN, West Virginia (CMC):

Ace Barbadian trainer Saffie Joseph won his second consecutive Charles Town Oak with Indy Bay, while Mystic Lake won the Misty Bennett Pink Ribbon Stakes here over the weekend.

Indy Bay, a three-year-old filly with Irad Ortiz Jr in the saddle, captured the US$750, 000 Charles Town Oak, the richest race in North America for fillies over 1400 metres, to make C2 Racing Stable the first owners to win the race more than once.

In what was effectively a three-horse race all the way around the track, Indy Bay benefited from a masterful ride under Ortiz Jr, stalking stablemate Andrea and Vodka With a Twist, the 9-5 favourite in the early going.

However, on the turn for home, Ortiz eased Indy Bay off the rail for a three-wide move into the stretch. It was immensely effective, even as the filly floated out several paths and had to move back in to engage with the leading pair.

She easily advanced past both rivals in mid-stretch and completed the seven furlongs in 1:25.82 to win by 1 3/4 lengths.

Andrea placed third, while Paradise City, another of Joseph's charges, placed fourth.

Meanwhile, Mystic Lake emerged victorious in the US$250, 000 Misty Bennett Pink Ribbon, winning the 1400 metre race in 1:25.73.

The four-year-old filly carved all the fractions to win by three lengths, defeating favourite Vahva and stablemate Save Time to give Joseph another one-three Stakes finish.