(Charles Town, WV) – With a ten horse gate and nine race card at Charles Town Races & Slots, getting 90 horses to fill out the bodies of its races could be considered the racing office equivalent of a perfect game. When entries were taken today for West Virginia Breeders’ Classics XXIII, held on October 17th, the Charles Town overnight showed 85 horses – just five short of a full field in each one of the nine stakes this Saturday night.

The night’s featured event, the $500,000 West Virginia Breeders’ Classic, will showcase three-year-old Russell Road taking on a strong field including recent runaway winner Peaceful Bliss and 2008 Breeders’ Classic winner Ghostly Thunder. Trained by James W. Casey, Russell Road is a perfect 6 for 6 in West Virginia-bred stakes’ company but stretches out to the Classic’s 1 1/8 mile distance for the first time.

“That’s really my biggest concern”, said Casey about the 9 furlong distance. “There are a lot of horses that close well going 7 furlongs that just can’t stretch out much farther. I just hope we’re not one of them.”

Ghostly Thunder capped his 2008 campaign, which included four stakes wins, with a victory in the West Virginia Breeders’ Classic, but has struggled to regain his form in 2009. Following a second place finish in a June allowance race, the four-year-old son of Ghostly Minister then ran fifth in his second start of the year before finishing 11 ½ lengths behind Peaceful Bliss in last month’s Robert Hilton Memorial.

From a purse standpoint, the $500,000 West Virginia Cavada Breeders’ Classic shares top billing with the night’s featured event and will go off as the 7th race on the card. While the Cavada appears to be a relatively wide open affair, a pair of three-year-old fillies, Run Louis Run and My Sister Margaret, figure prominently in its outcome. In her last start, Run Louis Run scored a half-length victory over My Sister Margaret in the Ruth C. Funkhouser Memorial on September 25th.

One thing Run Louis Run will have on her side is her red-hot trainer Tim Grams. Grams, whose horses have rattled off 17 wins in 31 starts since September 5th, sees no reason he can’t keep the hot streak going through Saturday.

“Our Breeders’ Classics horses are doing great,” he said. “As far as Run Louis Run goes, her speed numbers put her right near the top in this race, so this is where we’ll take our shot.”

2008 winner Julie B would go over the $1 million mark in career earnings with a win in the Cavada, but comes off a dull fifth place finish in the Roger van Hoozer Memorial where she was beaten 7 ¼ lengths.

“She was off for five months before the van Hoozer,” remarked George Yetsook, Julie B’s trainer. “That and she had to be five-wide down the backstretch. I’d be surprised if she didn’t run well.”

The nine race West Virginia Breeders’ Classics card on October 17th, now boasting a record $2 million in purses, is the richest single state, state-bred event. It also marks the first ever $2 million night in the history of West Virginia thoroughbred racing.

Post time for the first race on Saturday night is 7:15pm EST. The featured Breeders’ Classic will go off as the 8th race with a post time of 10:45pm EST and be show live locally by Comcast SportsNet and on tape delay on most regional Fox Sports affiliates. Full card coverage will also be provided on HRTV.

West Virginia Breeders’ Classics Entries

Race 1 – Post Time 7:15 EST

WV Triple Crown Nutrition Breeders’ Classic ($140,000, F 2yo, 4 1/2 Furlongs)

Post Position. Horse, Weight, Jockey

• 1.  Bells of Peace, 117, Gustavo Larrosa
• 2.  Nickelanddimeya, 117, Alexis Rios-Conde
• 3.  Where’s Ginger, 117, James Vail
• 4.  Stowe White, 117, JD Acosta
• 5.  Crusader’s Angel, 117, Fredy Peltroche
• 6.  Miss Devil Her Due, 117, Javier Rivera
• 7.  Silver Cub, 117, Travis Dunkelberger
• 8.  Amy’s Affair, 117, Grant Whitacre
• 9.  Down Town Allen, 117, Mathew McGowan
• 10.  Printscess Poach, 117, Jesus Sanchez

11AE.  Pagan Lady, 117, Natasha Bracaloni

Race 2 – Post Time 7:45 EST

WV Farm Family Insurance Vincent Moscarelli Breeders’ Classic ($140,000, 2yo, 6 1/2 Furlongs)

Post Position. Horse, Weight, Jockey

• 1.  Loud Ravens, 120, Jorge Monserrate, Jr.
• 2.  King’s Glory, 120, Larry Reynolds
• 3(a).  Triple Option, 120, Travis Dunkelberger
• 4.  New Vision, 120, JD Acosta
• 5.  Robb Tradd, 120, Xavier Perez
• 6(b).  Showmethetrick, 120, Gustavo Larrosa
• 7.  Son of a Bear, 120, Jesus Sanchez
• 8(a).  Rutledge Lion, 120, Luis Perez
• 9.  Di Colas Ex, 120, Eric Camacho
• 10.  I Got an Answer, 120, Mathew McGowan
• 11(b)AE.  Life on the River, 120, James Vail
• 12AE.  Deharry, 120, Anthony Mawing
• 13AE.  Texas Glitz, 120, JD Acosta
• 14AE.  Warlocked, 120, Grant Whitacre

Race 3 – Post Time 8:15 EST

WV Lottery Breeders’ Classic ($140,000, 3yo, 7 Furlongs)
Post Position. Horse, Weight, Jockey

• 1.  Carol’s Hero, 121, Malcom Franklin
• 2(a). Colonel J W, 121, Arnaldo Bocachica
• 3.  One Bold West, 121, Gustavo Larrosa
• 4.  James Wood, 121, Luis Perez
• 5(a). Cover My Six, 121, JD Acosta
• 6.  Buzz, 121, Travis Dunkelberger
• 7.  He’s Coming Around, 121, John Luzzi, Jr.
• 8.  Pagan Cat, 121, Gerald Almodovar
• 9.  I’m Fuhr Real, 121, Xavier Perez

Race 4 – Post Time 8:45 EST

WV “Dash for Cash” Breeders’ Classic ($140,000, 3&up, 4 1/2 Furlongs)

Post Position. Horse, Weight, Jockey

• 1.  Virginia Rebel, 122, Alexis Rios-Conde
• 2.  Mother Freedom, 122, Charles Forrest
• 3.  Green Suede Shoes, 122, Larry Reynolds
• 4.  Perfect Way, 122, Arnaldo Bocachica
• 5.  Lord of Dance, 122, Gerald Almodovar
• 6.  Blues in the Night, 122, Erick Ramirez
• 7.  Nay’s Tap, 119, Mathew McGowan
• 8.  Trouble Makin, 122, Gustavo Larrosa

Race 5 – Post Time 9:15 EST

WV Division of Tourism Breeders’ Classic ($140,000, F 3yo, 7 Furlongs)

Post Position. Horse, Weight, Jockey

• 1.  Fluvanna, 118, Luis Batista
• 2.  Silver Buckle, 118, Arnaldo Bocachica
• 3.  Come Here Oonga, 118, Luis Perez
• 4.  Hollys Song, 118, Xavier Perez
• 5.  Super Sweet Tea, 118, John Luzzi, Jr.
• 6.  Leva Mae, 118, Gustavo Larrosa
• 7.  B B’s Bop, 118, JD Acosta
• 8.  Belle of Camden, 118, Eric Camacho
• 9.  Aspenglow, 118, Travis Dunkelberger
• 10.  Bask in the Sun, 118, James Vail
• 11AE.  Badge Bunny, 118, Mathew McGowan
• 12AE.  Princess Aditi, 118, Ivan Gonzalez

Race 6 – Post Time 9:45 EST

WV Onion Juice Breeders’ Classic ($150,000, 3&up, 7 Furlongs)

Post Position. Horse, Weight, Jockey

• 1.  Judge Marshall, 122, Anthony Mawing
• 2.  Wesh’s Texas Star, 122, Gustavo Larrosa
• 3(a).  Prized Monarch, 122, Dale Whittaker
• 4.  Lively Reparations, 122, Charles Forrest
• 5.  Darth Tater, 122, Natasha Bracaloni
• 6.  Henry the Lover, 122, Travis Dunkelberger
• 7.  Raggedy Andy, 122, Arnaldo Bocachica
• 8.  El Numero Uno, 122, Grant Whitacre
• 9.  Fourmylifever, 122, Javier Rivera
• 10.  Pow Wow Power, 122, Alexis Rios-Conde
• 11AE.  Mr. Synfuel, 122, Nelson DeSouza
• 12AE.  Smart Pace, 122, Christopher VanHassel
• 13(a)AE.  Stormy City, 122, Luis Batista
• 14AE.  Blazing Fleet, 122, Jesus Sanchez

Race 7 – Post Time 10:15 EST

WV Jefferson Security Bank “Cavada” Breeders’ Classic ($500,000, F&M 3&up, 7 Furlongs)

Post Position. Horse, Weight, Jockey

• 1.  Julie B, 122, Rodney Soodeen
• 2.  Silver Heart, 122, JD Acosta
• 3.  Runaway Cide, 122, Gustavo Larrosa
• 4.  Shesagrumptoo, 122, Travis Dunkelberger
• 5.  Run Louis Run, 119, Larry Reynolds
• 6.  Natures Annuity, 122, Luis Perez
• 7.  Shesdebonairness, 122, Arnaldo Bocachica
• 8.  Touch of Class, 122, Wesley Ho
• 9.  Kim’s Gold, 122, Jesus Sanchez
• 10.  My Sister Margaret, 119, Scott Spieth
• 11AE.  Bough Breaker, 122, Fredy Peltroche

Race 8 – Post Time 10:45 EST

West Virginia Breeders’ Classic ($500,000, 3&up, 1 1/8 Miles)

Post Position. Horse, Weight, Jockey

• 1.  Punk Robinson, 122, James Vail
• 2(a).  Russell Road, 118, Travis Dunkelberger
• 3.  Peaceful Bliss, 122, Erick Ramirez
• 4.  Dancin Banker, 122, Anthony Mawing
• 5.  Eastern Delite, 122, Gerald Almodovar
• 6(a).  Milwaukee Fun, 122, Luis Perez
• 7.  Ghostly Thunder, 122, JD Acosta
• 8.  Deepinmypockets, 122, Mathew McGowan

Race 9 – Post Time 11:15 EST

WV Enterprise Breeders’ Classic Distaff ($150,000, F&M 3&up, 1 1/8 Miles)

Post Position. Horse, Weight, Jockey

• 1.  Jolie Ange, 118, Travis Dunkelberger
• 2.  Castina, 122, Dale Whittaker
• 3(a).  Mighty Tinybubbles, 122, Nilo Perez
• 4.  Youbeyoun’I’llbeme, 122, Xavier Perez
• 5.  Nozation, 122, Natasha Bracaloni
• 6(b).  We’re in the Money, 122, Gerald Almodovar
• 7(b).  Creative Rosetta, 122, Erick Ramirez
• 8.  Clicquot Cat, 118, Larry Reynolds
• 9(a).  Smile Samantha, 122, JD Acosta
• 10.  Shes Heavy Lifting, 122, Arnaldo Bocachica
• 11AE.  Sassy Sheri, 122, Mathew McGowan
• 12AE.  Reluctant Step, 118, Luis Batista
• 13AE.  Devonspaintedlady, 122, Kendrick Carmouche