Bullets Fever prevails after long duel to take Tri-State Futurity

The public bet the Tri-State Futurity at Charles Town on Saturday night like it was a two-horse race, and that’s exactly how the seven-furlong race played out with the colt Bullets Fever defeating the filly Aye a Song by a neck after a long battle.

Bullets Fever and Aye a Song each came into the Tri-State undefeated. Bullets Fever had won the Oct. 10 Vincent Moscarelli Breeders’ Classic and a maiden race. Aye a Song was 3 for 3 with victories in the Triple Crown Nutrition Breeders’ Classic, the Rachel’s Turn Stakes, and a maiden race.

On Breeders’ Classic night, Bullets Fever had covered 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:19.76 and earned a 73 Beyer Speed Figure, while Aye a Song was timed in 1:21.16, good for a 55 Beyer.

On Saturday, Aye a Song, trained by John McKee, sprinted clear to an open early lead under jockey Christian Hiraldo. They were joined from the outside by Bullets Fever and Arnaldo Bocachica early on the backstretch, and the pair raced on nearly even terms for the final half-mile before Bullets Fever inched away in deep stretch to prove better by a neck.

It was 3 1/2 lengths back to the third-place finisher Weekend Liberty, who moved up to contention while inside the winner early on the backstretch but dropped back and continued willingly.

Bullets Fever is trained by Jeff Runco, the perennial leading conditioner at Charles Town, and owned by David Raim. Bullets Fever earned $45,585 from the total purse of $75,975.

Bullets Fever paid $3.80 as the favorite in the nine-horse field and combined with the 3-2 second Choice Aye a Song for a $2 exacta worth $7.80.

Bullets Fever was timed in 1:27.80 over the fast track.

Imaflashyfellow broke in the air and spotted the field several lengths. He finished seventh.

Nomoreweakmoments moved up to contention three wide early on the backstretch but tired to finish last.