Son of a Bear looks tough

The top three finishers from last month's $126,000 Vince Moscarelli Memorial Breeders' Classic are back at a slightly longer distance to contest the $100,000 Tri-State Futurity at Charles Town.

Son of a Bear, who improved his record to 3 for 4 by scoring a 1 3/4-length victory in the 6 1/2-furlong Moscarelli as the 4-5 favorite, figures to be a similar short price in the seven-furlong Futurity.

I Got a Answer, the runner-up in the Moscarelli, does benefit from a four-pound shift in the weights since last time but has already been beaten twice by Son of a Bear, both times over sloppy tracks.

New Vision, third in the Moscarelli while making his first start against winners, has finished at least four lengths behind Son of a Bear in two previous meetings.

Although the race is also open to Maryland-breds and Virginia-breds, all seven starters are West Virginia-breds.