Teachintherelease Aims for WV Breeders' Classic Repeat

Defending race winner Teachintherelease headlines an expected full field of 10 (with two alternates) in this year's renewal of the $300,000 Sam Huff West Virginia Breeders' Classic Stakes Oct. 10 at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races.

The richest race for West Virginia-breds on the 40th annual West Virginia Breeders' Classics card tops a 10-race program that will offer more than $1 million in purses. First post is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET Saturday night.

A 6-year-old son of Windsor Castle, Teachintherelease has built an impressive résumé since being claimed by owner Robert Cole Jr. and trainer Stephen Murdock. In addition to last year's win in the Sam Huff WVBC, he has landed wins in the Frank Gall Memorial Stakes and Randy Funkhouser Memorial Stakes. The 4-5 morning-line favorite will break from post 4 under jockey Carlos Lopez.

Jubawithatwist was the 1-10 favorite in this race in 2024 before ultimately finishing second. After only two starts in his 4-year-old season, the son of Juba has been rounding back into top form as a 5-year-old. He followed a trio of creditable second-place efforts with a win over top West Virginia-bred sprinter Duncan Idaho in his final prep for the Sam Huff. Antonio Lopez will be tasked with working out a trip from post 10 for the 9-2 morning-line second choice.

Trainer Jeff Runco will be represented by a pair of entrants: Spotafreeone (5-1) and Audible Storm (15-1). Spotafreeone is the more accomplished of the two, having won the 2025 West Virginia Russell Road Breeders Classic Stakes and Robert G. Leavitt Stakes as a 3-year-old. He's entered off a third-place finish in the Frank Gall Memorial behind Teachintherelease and Jubawithatwist. Arnaldo Bocachica has the call on Spotafreeone, with Jeiron Barbosa named to ride Audible Storm, who makes his first start as a gelding.

Xcellent Start, Neverpopthecork, Defiant Giant, Gimmethatsugar, Fiber Proof, and This Juice B Loose round out the remainder of the body of the field from the rail out, with Youthful Energy and Royal Pain on the also-eligible list should there be any defections. The Classic will go as race 9 on the 10-race program, with a post time of 11:02 p.m.

West Virginia Cavada Breeders' Classic

The night's co-featured event is the $125,000 West Virginia Cavada Breeders' Classic Stakes, which goes as race 8 and features the past two winners of the race—2024 winner Overnight Pow Wow for trainer Cynthia McKee and last year's winner Petty Perfect for trainer Kristy Petty. Overnight Pow Wow was installed as the 3-5 morning-line favorite for this year's Cavada, with Petty Perfect the 5-1 second choice.

West Virginia Breeders' Classics festivities begin Oct. 9 with the Sam Huff Golf Classic in the morning at Locust Hill Golf Course followed by the Breeders' Classics Gala that night at Beau Ridge Farm. Eclipse Award winner and multiple broadcasting Hall of Fame member Chris Lincoln will emcee the gala.

Gates will open at 6 p.m. Saturday with live entertainment on the track apron, as well as additional outdoor dining and beverage options. Two-time Sam Huff West Virginia Breeders' Classic winner Muad'dib will be honored prior to the first race of the night.