Hear the Chatter tries to hold off stablemate One More Time in Tri-State Futurity

In two outings against his stablemate, Hear the Chatter, the 2-year-old West Virginia-bred One More Time hasn’t gotten closer than four lengths at the finish line. One More Time will give it one more try in Saturday night’s $50,000 Tri-State Futurity at Charles Town.

Both the gelding Hear the Chatter and the colt One More Time are owned by Kristy Petty and trained by John Casey, but they race as separate betting interests. Hear the Chatter’s 76 Beyer Speed Figure for his 4 3/4-length win over One More Time in the 6 1/2-furlong Vince Moscarelli last month stands out in the 10-horse field for the seven-furlong Tri-State Futurity.

In addition, Hear the Chatter, whose only loss in four starts came when he ventured to Delaware Park, has the advantage of breaking from post 3. His two most serious challengers, One More Time and recent maiden winner George Town Cat, are far outside in posts 9 and 10 for the two-turn race.

The co-featured $50,000 fillies division of the Tri-State Futurity is far more difficult for handicappers. The only two fillies in the field of seven to race 6 1/2 or seven furlongs are both maidens. None of the others has won at a distance longer than 5 1/2 furlongs.

Sara Rocks, who has raced at Laurel Park in four of her five starts, may be the filly to beat. Her trainer, Robbie Bailes, is 4 for 10 with 2-year-olds racing at 6 1/2 to seven furlongs.

The pedigree play looks like Crowned With Gold, whose sire, Yarrow Brae, has a 21 percent success rate with 2-year-olds and a 14 percent strike rate with all runners at distances from six to 7 1/2 furlongs.

Key contenders

Hear the Chatter (Last 3 Beyers: 76-69-45)

* Will be difficult to beat if he runs anywhere close to the 76 Beyer he produced in his last start around two turns.

* Casey won a division of the 2009 Tri-State Futurity with the filly Down Town Allen.

One More Time (Last 3 Beyers: 65-64-55)

* Breaking from post 9 won’t help him in his bid to turn the tables on a stablemate who easily has handled him each of the previous two times they met.

George Town Cat (Last 3 Beyers: 60-52-54)

* Looked good in winning his maiden in his first try around two turns but now must overcome post 10.