Bullets Fever favored in Tri-State Futurity

The $50,000-added Tri-State Futurity at Charles Town on Saturday night is open to 2-year-olds bred in Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia. The 10 runners that will meet Saturday night, however, all hail from West Virginia.

There are five males and five fillies in the field. Trainers Jeff Runco and John Casey each have four entrants. John McKee has two.

Runco, who has led the trainer standings at Charles Town every year since 2006, has the favorite in Bullets Fever, who is 2 for 2 and won the Vincent Moscarelli Breeders’ Classic for 2-year-olds Oct. 10.

Bullets Fever earned a 73 Beyer Speed Figure for his Breeders’ Classic win, which is by far the highest number in the field. He won by five lengths while covering 6 1/2 furlongs around two turns in 1:19.76.

McKee trains Aye a Song, who won the fillies division on Breeders’ Classic night. She now is 3 for 3 and earned a 55 Beyer for her half-length decision over the 11-10 favorite R C’s Daisyduke, who is not in Saturday night’s lineup. Aye a Song was timed in 1:21.16.

North Atlantic, trained by Runco, figures to be one of the top betting choices. Favored at 9-5 over the 2-1 Bullets Fever in the Moscarelli, he finished third, beaten six lengths.

Stoweshoe, a filly trained by Runco, who was third, beaten 2 1/2 lengths by Aye a Song in the Breeders’ Classic, also is a contender. She came into that race off two strong victories.

Both North Atlantic and Stoweshoe will add blinkers for the Tri-State Futurity.