Jubawithatwist leaves no doubt in Leavitt * The Racing Biz

At the last running of the $75,000 Robert Leavitt Memorial for West Virginia-bred three-year-old males, a victory by last year’s state champion Jubawithatwist, trained by Kristy Petty, was considered a foregone conclusion.

Sent out as the overwhelming favourite at odds of 1-9 from the compact field of five, Jubawithatwist also attracted a staggering $282,000-plus in show betting – around six times the amount wagered on him to win – from a pool of almost $320,000 and there was never a fearful moment for those bridge jumpers.

The speedy Marshall Peanut set the early pace in the Leavitt with Break The Chains his closest pursuer. It was an ordeal too, a quarter mile in 23.09 seconds. Jubawithatwist, with Gustavo Larrosa in the air, had those runners in his sights, just three off the pace. But he wouldn’t wait long.

Jubawtithatwist loomed wide of the top tandem that briefly turned in the rear, and before he reached the far turn he had sprinted well clear of them. He was half a length ahead after half a mile in 46.66 seconds, and as it happened his pace rivals were all in, and the closers were no threat.

In fact, Jubawithatwist would increase his lead with every stride from that point on, finishing 13 1/4 lengths clear as he clocked a 1:24.29 for the seven furlongs over the fast strip. It was the fourth win in six seasonal trials for the sophomore son of Juba, and he now has eight wins and more than $280,000 in earnings from 12 lifetime outings.

Petty owns and trains Jubawithatwist, who was bred in West Virginia by the late John A. Casey.

“He’s just doing really well right now,” Petty said of her charge. “He’s really tough to beat when he’s racing 3-year-olds. I’m definitely weighing my options with him. We might go into the ($500,000) Robert Hilton (on Aug. 23). That’s definitely crossed my mind. That’s going to be a tough race, so we’ll see how he comes out of that. I’m also looking at the (West Virginia Breeders) Classic. I think he’ll do really well at a mile and an eighth.”

Jubawithatwist paid $2.20 to win. The exacta, with 19-1 Soul Catcher cruising into second place, paid $3.40 on a dollar bet. Judgement Day finished third, with Marshall Peanut and Break the Chains rounding out the finishing order.

Papa Linguine and You Bet a Fortune were cancelled.

Much earlier in Saturday’s opener, Pork Chop Pete (Juan Nunez) lived up to his reputation as the 1-9 favorite in a one-turn allowance dash for state-bred horses when he emerged among the home-turning horses to dominate and open a 4 3/4-length lead late in the race. A sophomore son of Golden Years trained by Javier Contreras for owners O’Sullivan Farms and Alex Kazdan, Pork Chop Pete ended a four-race streak and notched his second win in six outings by clearing the 4 1/2 furlongs in 51.54 as the no-holds-barred choice. In a show pool that topped $165,000, Pork Chop Pete was just shy of $150,000 in show betting.

While Saturday could shine the spotlight on the best West Virginia-bred 3-year-olds in training, next weekend will offer the state-bred sophomore fillies a chance to shine in the $75,000 Sylvia Bishop Memorial. Direct the Cat, last year’s champion West Virginia-bred 2-year-old filly, has already won two allowance races this summer by a combined 21 lengths for owner-trainer Cynthia McKee and could use Bishop as a stepping stone to the Grade II, $750,000 Charles Town Oaks here on Aug. 23.

She will enter Bishop on a six-race winning streak, winning those events by an average of nearly 10 lengths with regular pilot Reshawn Latchman aboard.

While Direct the Cat is the potential favorite in the Sylvia Bishop, there are several solid second-year State-bred mares ready for the chance to dethrone her. Runaway Beauty won a two-turn allowance here by nearly five lengths in last; Lady Rambo has won her last three two-turn allowance races against mares, What’shername won her first two starts for owner-trainer Leslie Cromer before being overtaken by Runaway Beauty in last, and Overnight Pow Wow, the full sister to Late Night Pow Wow and Muad’dib, has won both starts by two turns in front of McKee.