In their first meeting, Bail Is Denied was elevated from first to second when runaway winner Im the Director was disqualified for impeding another rival. In their second meeting, Im the Director was well clear of Bail Is Denied but beaten by Annapolis Road in last month’s WVBC Moscarelli Memorial. And in their third, Bail Is Denied prevailed again when Im the Director encountered plentiful trip trouble.

Their fourth meeting, in last night’s $50,000 West Virginia Futurity, saw the two hook up in a spirited battle in the lane, with the outcome once again ultimately determined by the stewards following a jockey’s objection.

This time, however, it went Im the Director’s way.

Im the Director, a two-year-old Redirect gelding, survived a stern challenge from his rival and an objection to earn his second win from eight career starts. Both his wins have come in stakes company – he also won the Henry Mercer Memorial Stakes in September – and he has earned $116,551.

Im the Director, the 1-2 post time favorite, was on the attack immediately in the Futurity. Under regular pilot Marshall Mendez, he pressed initial leader John’s Notion through a quarter-mile in 23.92 seconds and a half in 47.87.

John’s Notion packed it in on the turn for home, but Bail Is Denied, well positioned off the duel under jockey Wilfredo Santiago, tipped outside to mount his challenge. Im the Director floated his rival out at the top of the stretch, and then in the lane those two slugged it out to the wire, head-bobbing at the end.

Santiago did claim foul against Im the Director for the action at the top of the stretch, but the stewards ultimately denied the objection.

Bold Rock, last of the quintet for the first half-mile, rallied to be a clear third but was 7 ¼ lengths behind the top pair.

Im the Director paid $3.00 to win, and with the second choice in the wagering finishing second, topped an exacta that returned $3.10 for a one-dollar wager. Bold Rock was the longest shot on the board, and the triple paid $12.60 for a buck.

Im the Director was bred in West Virginia by the late John McKee and is trained by his widow Cynthia McKee for her own Beau Ridge Farm LLC. He is a full brother to the very good three-year-old filly Direct the Cat, also trained and owned by Cynthia McKee.

NOTES The Futurity was the final stake of the 2024 season at Charles Town, whose racing season concludes December 14… Trainer Tim Grams won three on Saturday, taking the early double with maiden-breaker Lil Miss Honkytonk and Moonlit Kiss and then winning the fourth with Maggie’s Girl… Jockey Larry Reynolds was aboard the latter two… Rider Orlando Bocachica also won two, scoring on Portia’s Hope ($30.60) for trainer Geoffrey Dixon and Juba Bound ($11.40) for Michelle Knoblauch…

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