The WV Breeders Classic
CT- For Three Year Olds and Upward Foaled in WV
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
October 12, 2019

The WV Breeders Classic was the highlight of the day at CT, which featured a lot of the top WV-bred horses. It was a balanced field of five on paper with no one real standout. Dustu has had a lot of experience running on this track, and against WV-breds, and in those races he has been good for finishing in the money, but not a reliable horse to put on top. Therefore, I shied away from him in the preview, and here he would prove wrong with a strong effort from start to finish to earn the win. Trainer Team 7 Illusions is now a two time winner of the race, having also won in 2015 with Chainsaw Sallie. Jockey A Bocachica is a first time winner. Congratulations to them! The race was won in a time of 1:47.94. Here’s a look at it!

1st- 1- Dustu (Team 7 Illusions) (5/2)- Started well, and maintained his position along the rail for the opening portion of the race. Stalked the leader for the first half mile a length and a half from the lead. Moved to the second lane during the backstretch, and prepared to make the pass for the lead as they moved around the final turn. Midway through the turn, he would complete the pass for the lead, and seemed in a safe position at the top of the stretch. Ran well in the top of stretch, making the run of Blue Eight only be a run for second as he was pretty well in the clear, getting a solid win.

2nd- 2- Blue Eight (T Boy Racing) (8/1)- A lot of money was put on him in the win pool, but little else, so some of the prices ended up being quite good with him. Early in the race, he was fourth, maintained a reasonable gap of three and a half lengths to the leader. Held his ground moving into the turn, and seemed to be eyeing the rail for his move. This had worked in as far as catching his stablemate, who had been the leader, but making up ground to Dustu would be more of a challenge. He never really posed a threat for the win.

3rd- 5- Serpiente Party (T Boy Racing) (3/1)- Jumped out to the early lead, and would run a half mile in :47.49. His advantage was a length the first time they crossed the start finish lane. Maintained a steady stride as he would be unchallenged until they reached the top of the turn, when he would start feeling pressure from Dustu. Was unable to answer that challenge, but tried to hang on in the stretch, but would lose the second position, but for the trainer, at least that was to a stablemate.

4th- 3- Where You At (Rampage Stable) (2/1)- The post time favorite started well, and was content to race right alongside Dustu for the first half of the race. During the backstretch, the first sign of trouble came when he would not advance with Dustu at all and was lacking response at the top of the turn. Started looking a little better in the turn in as far as his effort, but would not have the legs underneath him to pose a threat.

5th- 4- Dogs Noah (Maxmillion Farm) (3/1)- He really seemed to be left behind right out of the starting gate, almost as if he missed the break. Continued to show nothing in the backstretch or at any other point, and that has cost him his ability to reproduce, as he is now a gelding.

About The Winner– Dustu, trained by Team 7 Illusions, and ridden to victory by A Bocachica, is a three year old gelding by the great Cherokee Sunset, and is out of You Aint Gon Like. He was bred in West Virginia by Team 7 Illusions as a first quarter two year old, the only trainer for which he has ever known. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his third in fourteen starts, and his first stake win of any sort. His career earnings are now $254.770.

Track: Fast
Time: :47²  1:11   1:35²  1:47⁴

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 1 – 2 Paid 213.70
$1 Trifecta: 1 – 2 – 5 Paid 1,154.40

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded