Turning for home in the $1.2 million Charles Town Classic, Afleet Willy, War Story, and Something Awesome were inches apart battling for the lead. War Story stuck his head in front in midstretch, but Something Awesome on the outside refused to quit and was up in the closing yards to score by a neck under Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado.

Something Awesome paid $20.60 in the seven-horse field.

This is the second straight year War Story suffered a difficult defeat in the race. A year ago he was figthing in the stretch between horses, just as he did Saturday, and he finished third, beaten two necks by Imperative and Matt King Cial.

Fear the Cowboy, who lagged well back early, finished with a strong but belated move to be third, aout a length behind War Story. It was about another neck back to Afleet Willy in fourth.

Diversify, the 6-5 favorite, who was making his first start since November, set a controlled pace of 24.34, 48.48 and 1:13.16 while being shadowed by Afleet Willy but didn't respond when called upon nearing the far turn and tired badly.

The final time was 1:50.84.