Bullets Fever simply looks too fast for foes in Robert Leavitt

Bullets Fever, undefeated in six starts, will be heavily favored to keep his perfect record intact when he faces seven other West Virginia-bred 3-year-olds going seven furlongs in Saturday night’s $50,000 Robert Leavitt Stakes at Charles Town.

The Leavitt is the prep for the $75,000 West Virginia Lottery, a seven-furlong stakes that is part of the West Virginia Breeders Classics card on Oct. 8.

Bullets Fever, trained by Jeff Runco, has been off since winning a second-level optional $32,000 claimer going six furlongs at Pimlico on June 12. In his lone previous try going seven furlongs, Bullets Fever won last fall’s Tri-State Futurity, one of three stakes he has captured.

Despite how dominant Bullets Fever looks on paper, his supporters have reason to be cautious. A year ago, Slip the Cable came into the Leavitt with a perfect record but bolted and wound up fifth as the 6-5 favorite. Slip the Cable did come back to win the West Virginia Lottery and finished his 3-year-old season with a 5-for-6 record.

Robert Leavitt, Race 7

KEY CONTENDERS

Bullets Fever, by Fiber Sands

Last 3 Beyers: 83-74-74

◗ He has handled every assignment so far, including road trips to Mountaineer and Pimlico.

◗ He’s also substantially faster on Beyer Speed Figures than anybody else in this field.

Castle Bound, by Ghostzapper

Last 3 Beyers: 71-61-51

◗ This gelding has steadily improved his Beyers from 43 in February to 71 last month, which puts him within range of Bullets Fever.

◗ He’s stepping up to stakes company for the first time and is still eligible for a nonwinners-of-three condition.

North Atlantic, by Ghostzapper

Last 3 Beyers: 61-65-55

◗ Like the favorite, he is trained by Runco. He was no match for Bullets Fever when they met in two stakes last season and in the 4 1/2-furlong Coin Collector in April.

◗ His victory going seven furlongs two starts ago was his best winning performance.

King of Anything, by Charitable

Last 3 Beyers: 67-62-61

◗ Although he’s a three-time winner, all but one of his 10 starts have come at 4 1/2 furlongs. The only time he tried a longer distance, he was fifth.