CHARLES TOWN, West Virginia, CMC – Barbadian jockey Reshawn Latchman paired with favourite Direct the Cat to dominate the US$75 000 West Virginia Triple Crown Nutrition Breeders’ Classic Stakes here Saturday.
Going 6-½ furlongs in race four on the day’s lucrative card in the southern United States, the 31-year-old made all the running with the roan to collar the two-year-old fillies by 12-¼ lengths in a time of one minute, 19:28 seconds.
Latchman also came close in the $75 000 West Virginia Dash for Cash Breeders’ Classic in race six when he finished second with 26-1 chance Youthinkthatsfunny, only a length behind winner 5-1 choice Penguin Power.
In sloppy conditions, Direct the Cat survived a poor break to rush to the front and contest the lead with 17-1 choice Mama Marge, the pair taking the field through the opening quarter at 23.09 seconds.
Longshots Navy Bond and Seven Natty Patty chased with the remainder of the field, struggling to get into the contest.
Direct, the Cat began to pull away from her rival on the backstretch and had opened up a four-length lead at the half-mile run in 46.44.
Latchman brought the filly off the turn eight lengths clear and coasted through the lane to the wire.
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