Ova Charged has seventh consecutive stakes victory in Chicken Fried

Mary Rampellini | The Bloodhorse | Jun 29, 2024

Ova Charged won her seventh consecutive stakes race Saturday when she overcame the rail post to capture the $125,000 Chicken Fried Stakes during the Texas Turf Festival at Lone Star Park. She won by 2 3/4 lengths over Uptownblingithome, while it was another neck back in third to Tiz Magic.

The Chicken Fried was one of four turf stakes on the 10-race card and the races were worth a cumulative $625,000.

Ova Charged ($2.60) owns the year’s highest Beyer Speed Figure – a 113 for a turf win at Fair Grounds – and she was returning to the grass for the Chicken Fried. She sat just behind a wall of runners through an opening quarter in 21.31 seconds, was positioned outside leader Fire Vision on the turn, and took over in the stretch en route to covering five furlongs on firm turf in a quick 55.86 seconds.

“I was sitting back with a lot of horse, waiting for a door to open,” winning rider Jose Guerrero said in a post-race interview conducted by Lone Star.

Shane Wilson trains Ova Charged, whose last seven starts have resulted in stakes wins. She was making her first start at Lone Star, on a hot, humid afternoon in Texas.

“She’s just handled everything we've ever thrown at her,” Wilson said. “She just doesn’t worry about anything. Just a really, really cool character. Nothing seems to bother her.”

Ova  Charged is a daughter of Star Guitar who races for her breeder, Brittlyn Stable. She has now won 15 of 18 starts for earnings of $918,575.

Wilson said Ova Charged is a candidate for the $250,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Turf Sprint on Aug. 3 at Ellis Park.