The Henry Mercer Memorial Stakes lived up to expectations. The test for West Virginia-bred juveniles appeared likely to have a fast and contested pace shaping the outcome of Saturday night’s $75,000 feature at Charles Town Races.

What looked like a speed-heavy group on paper played out exactly that way on the track, and it set the table for a rallying score by Gurney Halleck, a gray son of Practical Joke who earned his first career victory in dramatic fashion.

Breaking from post 2 under Arnaldo Bocachica, Gurney Halleck was unhurried early, dropping well back as several rivals hooked up in a heated battle for the lead. Tricks R for Juba and Irish Jubalee went head-to-head through an opening quarter in 21.83 seconds, while The Big Lep pressed three-wide. As the leaders began to feel the pressure turning for home, Gurney Halleck circled the turn four-wide to reach contention.

Inside the final sixteenth, the colt surged past tiring speed while widest and running on his wrong lead. Chuck Town, who had overcome traffic trouble to burst between rivals late, could not quite go with the winner and settled for second.

Gurney Halleck prevailed by a half-length in 52.42 for 4 ½ furlongs on a fast track. Chuck Town, his debut conqueror earlier this month, ran valiantly in second, while Tricks R for Juba, the early leader, fought on gamely to secure third. The Big Lep rounded out the superfecta after flattening out in the final yards.

Owned by David M. Raim, trained by Jeff Runco, and bred in West Virginia by O’Sullivan Farms, LLC and Javier Contreras, Gurney Halleck now boasts a record of 1-for-2 with $51,572 in earnings. The Mercer victory was especially satisfying after his promising debut runner-up finish to Chuck Town, showing he had learned from that experience and could turn the tables when the race flow played to his strengths.

The betting public had him pegged as the lukewarm favorite, and he rewarded backers with $6.00 to win, $3.00 to place, and $2.40 to show. Chuck Town returned $3.40 and $2.80, while Tricks R for Juba paid $3.40 to show. The $1 exacta (2-3) came back $8.10, the $1 trifecta (2-3-1) paid $20.30, and the $1 superfecta (2-3-1-7) was worth $84.50.

The next state-bred stakes for two-year-olds take place on West Virginia Breeders Classics’ night.