The best West Virginia-bred 2-year-olds were on display over the weekend | Sports

Last weekend offered Charles Town fans the chance to see the best West Virginia-bred 2-year-olds of both genders compete in a pair of stakes races on opposing nights while also allowing local fans to witness a proven state-bred star compete in another lucrative open stakes race on another track’s marquee card.

Last Saturday night, the spotlight shone on the West Virginia-bred 2-year-old males in the $75,000 Henry Mercer Memorial, where Gurney Halleck (Arnaldo Bocachica) and Chuck Town (Gustavo Larrosa) dueled for favoritism, and that pair, exiting the same maiden special weight event and that would have plenty to say about the outcome. Gurney Halleck is trained by Jeff Runco for owner David Raim.

When the gates opened in the latest edition of the Henry Mercer, Tricks R For Juba, Irish Jubalee and The Big Lep dueled for command down the backside while the two favorites sat just behind the leaders. At the top of the lane, the speed duel began to take its toll on the top trio and both Gurney Halleck and Chuck Town made their presence known in the lane, where Gurney Halleck emerged with a neck victory while stopping the timer in 52.42 for the 4 1/2 furlongs.

Earlier that afternoon at Parx in Pennsylvania, Baeza (Hector Berrios) lived up to his role as the 6-5 favorite in the Grade I, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby when he rallied from well off the pace and drew clear in the lane to a three-length score over Magnittude. A sophomore son of McKenzie trained by John Shirreffs for owner C R K Stables, Baeza recorded his second win from eight tries and pushed his lifetime earnings past $1.5 million by getting the one mile and one eighth in 1:48.03 as the solid choice.

One race earlier, Mad House (Paco Lopez) provided a genuine 23-1 shocker in the Grade II, $400,000 Gallant Bob Stakes for 3-year-old males when he gained command soon after the start, rebuffed early pressure, then edged clear in the lane to a two-length score. A sophomore son of Vekoma trained by David Van Winkle for owner James Thares, Mad House notched his fourth win from nine tries and now sports over $300,000 banked after getting the six panels in 1:08.77 as 2-5 choice Barnes rallied belatedly from last to get fourth.

Then one race earlier, Nelson Avenue (Joel Rosario) lived up to his role as the even-money favorite in the $300,000 Parx Mile when he rallied from just off the pace to overhaul Dilger late and hold safe defending champion and reigning West Virginia-bred horse of the year Coastal Mission. A 6-year-old Into Mischief gelding trained by Jorge Abreu, Nelson Avenue notched his first win from eight seasonal tries and now owns a 7-4-2 slate and nearly $600,000 banked from 24 career outings after getting the mile in 1:36.13, about four seconds faster than the winning time Coastal Mission posted in last year’s

One race earlier, Mystic Lake (Tyler Gaffalione) forged a very mild upset in the $150,000 Liberty Bell Stakes for fillies when she gained command soon after the break, shook off pressure on the far turn and held sway through the lane for a two-length score. A 4-year-old daughter of Mo Town trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr. and heroine of the recent Pink Ribbon Stakes at Charles Town, Mystic Lake recorded her fourth straight stakes tally, fifth win in seven tries this year and now owns an 11-3-1 slate and nearly $1.5 million banked from 20 career outings after getting the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.87.

That same afternoon at Gulfstream Park, Haulin Ice (Edgar Zayas) forged a mild upset in the Grade III, $200,000 Princess Rooney Stakes for fillies and mares when she gained command soon after the break, then led throughout en route to a five-length score. A 4-year-old daughter of Coal Front trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr. for owner C 2 Racing, Haulin Ice recorded her fifth victory from seven seasonal tries and now owns 10 wins and nearly $1 million banked from 17 career tries after getting the seven panels in 1:22.80 as the 5-2 second choice while punching her ticket to the Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Del Mar.

Then one night earlier in the penultimate race on the Friday card at Charles Town in the first of two stakes last weekend, C’Mon Eileen (Arnaldo Bocachica) easily lived up to her role as the 3-5 favorite in the $75,000 John McKee Memorial Stakes for state-bred 2-year-old fillies when she broke alertly to gain command leaving the chute then proceeded to widen her advantage throughout en route to a six-length score. A juvenile daughter of Complexity trained by Brittany Russell for owner DARRS, Inc., C’Mon Eileen remained perfect from two starts while getting the 4 1/2 furlongs in 51.37 as the odds-on choice in a stellar performance.

One race earlier, Swift Waters (Javier Rivera) just lived up to is billing as the 8-5 favorite in a two-turn maiden special weight event for state-bred boys when he

rallied from well off the pace and widest of all on the far turn to overhaul Felicias Cinco late for a length score. A sophomore son of Saratoga Syndicate owned, bred and trained by former local rider Lenworth Kirlew, Swift Waters graduated in his 11th seasonal outing and 16th try overall by getting the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:21.30 as the solid choice.

Then two races earlier, Falcon Blue (Jose Montano) lived up to his role as the 6-5 favorite in a two-turn maiden special weight for boys when he rallied from well off the pace and widest of all to forge a length victory over pacesetter Wiley Willard. A Maryland-bred sophomore son of Barbados trained by Kevin Joy for owner Gus Pesaturo, Falcon Blue graduated in his 10th career outing by getting the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:20.07 as the solid choice.

One night earlier in the penultimate race on the Thursday card, Teachintherelease (Carlos Lopez) lived up to his billing as the 1-9 favorite in a two-turn allowance/optional $25,000 claiming event for older males when he gained command passing the wire the first time, rebuffed one challenge down the backside, then held sway late for a two-length score. A state-bred 5-year-old Windsor Castle gelding trained by Stephen Murdock for owner Robert Cole, Jr., and hero of the Frank Gall Memorial in his previous start, Teachintherelease recorded his third win from four seasonal outings and now sports a 13-10-1 slate and nearly $400,000 banked after getting the seven furlongs in 1:24.65 as the overwhelming choice.

Several races earlier, Nocashrefunds (Jeiron Barbosa) forged a mild upset in a two-turn allowance/optional $20,000 claiming event for state-bred older males when he gained command through the clubhouse turn, rebuffed several challenges, then held safe 1-5 choice Muad’dib for a two-length score. A 7-year-old Juba gelding trained by Anthony Farrior for owner Conroy Thoroughbreds, Nocashrefunds recorded his second win from 11 seasonal tries and now owns a 5-10-9 slate and over $180,000 banked from 40 career outings after getting the seven panels in 1:25.76 as the 5-1 second choice.