Stablemates sweep preps for Breeders Classic

O'Sullivan Farms and trainer George Yetsook have themselves the favorites for the two richest races of the season at Charles Town, thanks to identical 1.75-length scores by stablemates Confucius Say and Julie B in Saturday night's local preps for next month's West Virginia Breeders Classic program.

The remarkable 10-year-old Confucius Say ($3.80), who won back-to-back runnings of the West Virginia Breeders Classic in 2001 and 2002, tuned up for the 1 1/8-mile, $500,000 feature on Oct. 18 by winning the seven-furlong, $51,550 Robert Hilton Memorial.

With Rodney Soodeen subbing for regular rider Larry Reynolds, Confucius Say won comfortably while covering the distance in 1:25.33. Eastern Delite, who defeated Confucius Say in last year's Classic but was later disqualified for testing positive for caffeine, nosed out Three's a Crowd for second.

The 5-year-old Julie B turned the tables on 3-5 favorite Carnival Chrome in the $51,250 Roger Van Hoozer Memorial Stakes by running down the pacesetter and drawing off in the stretch. Carnival Chrome had beaten Julie B the last two times they met, including last fall's West Virginia Cavada, a race now worth $500,000. Julie B won the Cavada two years ago.

Ridden for the first time by Arnaldo Bocachica, Julie B ran the seven furlongs in 1:26.07.