Less than a week after the West Virginia-bred two-year-old fillies made their debut in a one-turn maiden special weight dash at Charles Town, This Juice B Loose captured the first state-bred event for juvenile boys early on the July 4 card.

The race featured several siblings of prominent current local stars.

Despite their presence, however, This Juice B Loose, a juvenile son of Candygram trained by Anthony Lucas and co-owned by Lucas and Gary Bageant, was actually sent postward as the 3-2 favorite with Maximo Chilo aboard.

Dadsnumbronehelpr is the full-brother to last year’s state-bred champion two-year-old male, Jubawithatwist, while Im the Director is the full-brother to last season’s state-bred champion two-year-old filly, Direct the Cat, who would dazzle onlookers several races later on the card. In addition,.Baby Boss Allen is a half to the stakes winner Jubaslilballerina.

Lucas and Bageant had bought This Juice B Loose privately last year when Taylor Mountain Farm, which bred him, sold several runners following the passing of both James W. Casey and his son, John A. Casey. With Bageant new to ownership, Lucas encouraged Bageant to focus on buying well-bred yearlings rather than attempting to succeed through the claiming game. They bought two horses together, and This Juice B Loose represents the first horse that Bageant has ever started.

“We met a few years ago at the track when we just sitting and handicapping races,” Lucas said. “He said he might want to own a horse or two, so I told him we should start at the top and buy something with some breeding. We bought two from Kristy [Petty], and This Juice B Loose has always shown he has a lot of speed. In fact, he had so much speed in the mornings he was just running away from everything else I had out there. Until [Thursday] I didn’t know how he would do in a dogfight.”

They discovered on July 4 how much fight he had. This Juice B Loose broke well to duel inside of Baby Boss Allen down the backside, shook off that one, but then was immediately confronted by Dadsnumbronehelpr on the far turn. That rival actually put a head in front in the lane, but This Juice B Loose fought back and edged clear.

Bail Is Denied was along late for second, while Dadsnumbronehelpr, who broke awkwardly and was green in the early going, tired late to be third. Im the Director rallied late to garner fourth.

Running time for the 4 ½ furlongs on a fast main track was 53.24 seconds. This Juice B Loose returned $5.00 to win and topped an exacta that paid $28.40 for a one-dollar wager.

“I knew that he would break well and show plenty of speed,” Lucas said. “But I wasn’t sure how well he would handle pressure because he had never faced any in the mornings. But he showed that he could battle. He was in a dogfight the whole way and he still got clear at the end. That showed a lot of class.”

Lucas said that This Juice B Loose will likely head to Colonial Downs next month for a race. The Virginia-restricted Hickory Tree is scheduled for August 3. He then will point for the $75,000 Henry Mercer Memorial Stakes for West Virginia-bred two-year-olds September 21 before West Virginia Breeders’ Classics October 12.

“He’s Virginia-certified, so I’ll find a race for him at Colonial Downs,” Lucas said. “I was happy for Gary. That was his very first horse that raced. I just hope he realizes it’s not that easy. I don’t want the expectations to be too high now.”

This Juice B Loose is out of the winning Friends Lake mare Jacky Juice. He is a half-brother to 2016 Fancy Buckles Stakes winner Jacky’s Notion.

While This Juice B Loose delivered a game effort on debut in the first maiden special weight of the season for state-bred two-year-old males, Direct the Cat once again stole the show later on the card. Last year’s champion West Virginia-bred two-year-old filly absolutely romped home 15 1/4 lengths clear as the 1-9 favorite in a two-turn allowance for fillies and mares while stopping the timer in 1:24.88 for the seven furlongs. She has won both of her starts this year and six of eight career outings for owner-trainer Cynthia McKee.

“When I saw that filly win like that, my first thought was that I was watching another Flightline,” Lucas said. “I saw Cyndi after the race and that was the first thing I told her.”

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