The WV Breeders Classic
10/16/2010 CT Race #15 1 1/8m Dirt Stake Purse $500.000 For Three Year Olds And Upward Foaled In WV.
Defending champion Hold Tight returns this weekend to face three rivals in the fourth running of the WV Breeders Classic. The race highlights a full card of stakes racing at CT on Saturday. Hold Tight returns this year off a pair of back to back triple digit dirt route wins and will no doubt go off the Favorite.
The small field includes two other stakes winners. Easy As Pie won his stakes debut in the Gall Memorial here at CT back in August. Middle East is another CT stakes winner who won his black type debut in the in the Coin Collector last June. Rounding out the field is Evoke, a turf sprinter stepping up to stakes for the first time from the claiming and optional ranks. Time to get a closer look at the field.
1 Easy As Pie 30west Jockey 7106 123 This four year old gelded autogen was claimed from Mb Stables for $30.000 earlier this year. After changing silks he picked up a pair of wins including his stakes debut before finishing third in his last outing. Primarily a sprinter, he has won at a mile before though never at this distance. His races best on or near the lead so look for him to up front early with Hold Tight and Evoke.
2 Evoke Quintis Racing Jockey 7114 123 This five year old year autogen horse was claimed from Dynark Stables for $25.000 last August. Primarily a turf sprinter, he has done well in the claiming and optional ranks. He never won on the dirt before and never raced over six and one half furlongs. One of three in the field who tends to be on or near the lead, he is faced with the difficult task of making his black type debut on a surface and distance that may not be his best.
3 Middle East Mass Hysteria Jockey 7377 119 The only sophomore in the race, this autogen gelding was developed by the owner. He has been successful on the state bred circuit running both long and short and has missed the board just twice in his career so far. He won his black type debut in the Coin
Collector here at CT last summer. A natural closer, he can be too late at the wire if those up front get away from him. He should appreciate the extra distance here and could be a factor.
4 Hold Tight Australia Wide Jockey 7264 123 this four year old autogen colt was claimed from Spinetingling for $45.000 in the summer of 2009. A natural dirt router, he won eleven of his sixteen career races and missed the board just once. He was third this spring in the GIII Sixty Sails Handicap then dropped in class to pick up a pair of triple digit wins. He won this last year and looks poised for a 2010 repeat.
PICKS:
4. Hold Tight
3. Middle East
