Heading into the latest edition of the $75,000 Robert Leavitt Memorial for West Virginia-bred three-year-old males, a victory by Jubawithatwist, last year’s state-bred juvenile boys champion trained by Kristy Petty, was virtually considered a foregone conclusion.

Sent out as the overwhelming 1-9 favorite in the compact field of five, Jubawithatwist also attracted a staggering sum of over $282,000 in show wagers – roughly six times the amount bet on him to win – from a pool of nearly $320,000 and those bridge jumpers never had an anxious moment.

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

Jubawtithatwist loomed alongside the top tandem briefly entering the back side, and before reaching the far turn he had sprinted well clear of them. He was a half-length in front after a half-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 widen his margin with every stride from that point and romped home 13 1/4 lengths the best while stopping the timer in 1:24.29 for the seven furlongs over the fast strip. It was the fourth win in six seasonal tries for the sophomore son of Juba, and he now owns eight wins and over $280,000 banked 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 good right now,” Petty said of her charge. “He’s really tough to beat when he races three-year-olds. I’m definitely weighing my options with him. We might go in the [$500,000] Robert Hilton [on August 23]. That’s definitely crossed my mind. That’s going to be a tough race, so we’ll see how he comes out of this one. I am 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 rallying into second, paid $3.40 on a one-dollar wager. Judgement Day finished third, with Marshall Peanut and Break the Chains completing the order of finish.

Papa Linguine and You Bet a Fortune were scratched.

Much earlier in the Saturday opener, Pork Chop Pete (Juan Nunez) lived up to his billing as the 1-9 favorite in a one-turn allowance dash for state-breds when he surged to command between horses turning for home then drew clear late to a 4 3/4-length score. 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 skid and recorded the second win in six outings by getting the 4 1/2 furlongs in 51.54 as the prohibitive choice. In a show pool that surpassed $165,000, Pork Chop Pete was just shy of attracting $150,000 in show wagers.

While this Saturday was able to shine the spotlight on the top West Virginia-bred three-year-olds boys 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 two-year-old filly, has already won two allowance races this summer by a combined sum of 21 lengths for owner-trainer Cynthia McKee and could use the Bishop as a stepping stone to the Grade II, $750,000 Charles Town Oaks here on August 23. 

She will take a six-race win streak into the Bishop, having won those events by an average of nearly 10 lengths with regular pilot Reshawn Latchman aboard.

Although Direct the Cat looms the potential odds-on favorite in the Sylvia Bishop, there are several solid sophomore state-bred fillies poised for the chance to dethrone her. Runaway Beauty won a two-turn allowance here by nearly five lengths last out; Lady Rambo has won her last three two-turn allowance races against fillies, What’shername won her first two starts for owner-trainer Leslie Cromer before being overhauled by Runaway Beauty last out and Overnight Pow Wow, the full-sister to Late Night Pow Wow and Muad’dib, has won both of her starts going two turns for McKee.

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