CHARLES TOWN, West Virginia, CMC – Barbadian jockey Reshawn Latchman, who finished in the top five at Charles Town last season, was good enough to land a winner on the opening day of the new campaign here Wednesday night.
The 31-year-old captured the final race on the eight-race card when he paired with 14-1 outsider Mystified to beat the three-year-olds and upward over seven furlongs.
Five-to-one chance Gabriel’s Wing produced the early fractions and had opened up a three-length lead at the halfway marker.
Latchman, who raced Mystified off the pace, made his move, passing the seventh sixteenth pole and entering the stretch contending for the lead.
However, Royal Thunder and Gabriel’s wing led in the upper stretch before Latchman got his five-year-old bay gelding up in the final strides to win by a neck.
Latchman had earlier missed out in race two over 4-½ furlongs when he finished second aboard 5-1 choice Windsor’s Play, 1-½ lengths behind the winner Thunder Punch.
He also came close in another 4-½ sprint in race seven when he finished second with 2-1 choice Sayyestothelady, 3-½ lengths adrift of the winner Mackenzie’s Music.
The 2024 Charles Town season will comprise 158 race days, headlined by the two graded stakes races – the Charles Town Classic and the Charles Town Oaks, both grade two.
In the year-long 2023 season, which wrapped up three weeks ago, Latchman finished fourth with 84 wins from 539 rides, behind champion rider Arnaldo Bocachica, who logged 184.
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