Charles Town: Lucy's Bob Boy, Russell Road meet again in West Virginia Breeders Classic
Lucy’s Bob Boy and Russell Road will renew their rivalry Saturday night in the $500,000 Classic, the richest of nine stakes for statebreds on the 27th annual West Virginia Breeders Classics program at Charles Town.
As a 3-year-old last season, Lucy’s Bob Boy challenged his elders, including two-time Classic winner Russell Road, and dominated the 1 1/8-mile race, winning by eight lengths. Russell Road turned the tables the following month, winning by a length in the A Huevo. In their lone meeting this season in May, Lucy’s Bob Boy defeated Russell Road by four lengths in a seven-furlong allowance.
[West Virginia Breeders Classics: Get PPs, watch Saturday's card live]
Saturday’s Classic drew a full field of 10 horses, plus two alternates. Potential spoilers include Fred High, a five-time winner this season who beat Russell Road in last month’s local prep for the Classic and Golden Set, a two-time winner in West Virginia Breeders Classic races.
The richest race for females, the $200,000 Cavada, drew just six fillies and mares, led by defending champion Down Town Allen.
A potential showdown between Down Town Allen the 3-year-old filly Jax and Jill did not materialize. In their only previous meeting in August, the 6-year-old Down Town Allen ran down pacesetter Jax and Jill to prevail by a length. But rather than challenge Down Town Allen again, Jax and Jill’s connections chose to run against 3-year-old fillies in the $65,000 West Virginia Division of Tourism.
In a similar situation, the connections of 3-year-old Hidden Canyon elected to keep him against his peers in the $65,000 West Virginia Lottery. Hidden Canyon, who has crossed the wire first in all five of his starts this season, had been under consideration for the Classic.