Teachintherelease odds-on to repeat in Sam Huff Breeders' Classic
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Teachintherelease entered last year’s edition of the $300,000 West Virginia Sam Huff Breeders’ Classic at Charles Town as an overwhelming favorite and pulled clear in a dominant 14 1/4-length victory. It’s hard to believe, but the 6-year-old gelding has only gotten better since.
“He’s the best he’s ever been going into a race in this caliber,” trainer Stephen Murdock said. “I’m real happy with the position I’m in right now.”
Unbeaten in two starts this year, Teachintherelease will be heavily backed to win his second straight edition of the Breeders’ Classic on Saturday. He is the unimpeachable headliner on a 10-race card exclusively featuring statebred stakes at Charles Town.
The 6-year-old gelding is the 4-5 morning-line favorite in the field of 10 with two also-eligibles. His heavy favoritism is well earned, as he is undefeated in three starts at 1 1/8 miles. All other runners in the field are a combined 1 for 10 at the distance.
Not only has he proven himself at the distance, an advantage he did not have entering the Classic last year, but Teachintherelease also is coming off one of the best performances of his career. Following an allowance victory in early August, he improved to win the $75,000 Frank Gall Memorial by three lengths, earning a 96 Beyer Speed Figure.
Jubawithatwist finished second behind Teachintherelease in the favorite’s last two starts and will be his strongest rival again Saturday. The Kristy Petty trainee is coming off a 4 1/2-length allowance victory in September. That win came without a bigger fish to worry about.
Trainer Jeff Runco, who has 13 horses entered on the Breeders’ Classics card, drew the two inside posts with younger geldings Audible Storm and Spotafreeone.
Cavada Breeders’ Classic
Teachintherelease is far from the only West Virginia-bred standout on the Charles Town card this weekend, as Overnight Pow Wow has been made an even shorter 3-5 morning-line favorite in the $125,000 Cavada Breeders’ Classic.
In four straight victories at Charles Town for trainer Cynthia McKee, including two statebred scores, the front-running mare has only gotten stronger while surging away on the front end. The 2024 Cavada Breeders’ Classic winner was not the same in 2025, but she has been resurgent as a 5-year-old.
Last month, the McKee trainee kicked away to win an allowance by 1 1/2 lengths with an 81 Beyer, defeating Petty Perfect and Zip Start. Those rivals are the second and third choices in the seven-furlong stakes Saturday.
Dash for Cash Breeders’ Classic
Charles Town has successfully packed West Virginia-bred talent up and down the card, as the popular local runner Duncan Idaho will go for his seventh stakes victory in the second race, the $75,000 Dash for Cash Breeders’ Classic.
“He drew inside Saturday, so he’ll have to break well,” Runco said. “But as long as he breaks, he’ll run his race.”
Though he is the even-money favorite in the field of eight older males, Duncan Idaho has to bounce back from a surprising third in a 4 1/2-furlong allowance last month, which snapped a three-race win streak that included two stakes scores.
Russell Road Breeders’ Classic
Coming off a game third in the $500,000 Robert Hilton Memorial in August, Ryan’s Run nearly shipped out of West Virginia for the Grade 2 Gallant Bob at Parx Racing last month. Runco said the turnaround was too quick, however, leading the 3-year-old gelding back to statebred company in the $75,000 Russell Road Breeders’ Classic.
“He’s back against his guys, and we’ve got one more 3-year-old race this year,” Runco said. “We’ll eye [a bigger race] if all goes well on Saturday.”
Lottery Breeders’ Classic
At a Premium, a 3-year-old filly trained by David Walters, nearly went from West Virginia-bred contender to graded stakes winner when she came up a half-length short in the Grade 2 Charles Town Oaks in August. She will return to statebred company as an overwhelming presence in the $75,000 Lottery Breeders’ Classic.
“The winner [Niche] didn’t really have to overcome her position or anything, while we did have to a little bit,” Walters said.
In her four starts prior to the Oaks, At a Premium won four statebred races by a combined 41 1/4 lengths.
◗ In the $75,000, Triple Crown Nutrition Breeders’ Classic for juvenile fillies, the Anthony Farrior trainee Crystal Vail will go for her second straight stakes victory.
◗ The juvenile colt Call Me Micky J. will ship back to West Virginia for the $75,000 Moscarelli Memorial Breeders’ Classic, having won a statebred stakes at Charles Town last month for John Salzman Jr.
◗ Malibu Years, a 5-year-old mare trained by Bobby Barber, will go for her first stakes victory in the $75,000 Roger Ramey Breeders’ Classic Distaff.
◗ Thelastsay, the last-out winner of the $50,000 Autumn, will go for her second straight stakes score in the $75,000 1/ST Bet Breeders’ Classic.
◗ Murdock said he expects Ray of Sunshine to notch his second stakes victory in the $75,000 Onion Juice Breeders’ Classic.
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