WV Breeders Classics — from the announcer’s booth
Can we get a closer home?
The Biz
October 9, 2026
Paul Espinosa likes a closer. Give Charles Town’s announcer a horse gathering momentum, a leader getting leg-weary, and a finish still in doubt, and he has something to work with.
“I’m a sucker for closers, and maybe that’s why I like calling their races,” he said on the Oct. 8 edition of the Midlantic Racing Today podcast.
Saturday’s 40th annual West Virginia Breeders Classics could give him a few such opportunities. It could also give him several heavily favored horses doing exactly what everyone expects. Sorting one from the other is part of Espinosa’s other job: making the morning line.
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The 10-race celebration of West Virginia-breds begins at 7 p.m. October 10, with $1,025,000 in purses. For Espinosa, it will be his 10th Breeders Classics in the booth, a quarter of the event’s history. He started at Charles Town in 2016 but called his first Breeders Classics the following year.
“I do take great great pride in that,” he said of being a West Virginia native calling his home state’s signature night.
His memories include the brilliance of Runnin’toluvya, Castle Bound coming from far back, and Late Night Pow Wow facing Moonlit Song. The races with changing fortunes give an announcer a chance to add something to the experience, he said.
This year’s $300,000 Sam Huff West Virginia Breeders’ Classic, however, could belong to a horse who makes everyone else chase.
Defending champion Teachintherelease is 4-5 on Espinosa’s line for the 1 1/8-mile centerpiece. Trained by Stephen Murdock for Robert L. Cole Jr., the six-year-old has won both starts this season, beating Jubawithatwist each time. He won last year’s Classic by 14 1/4 lengths and is unbeaten in three starts at the distance.
Espinosa sees little other speed, an obvious advantage for Teachintherelease and jockey Carlos Lopez.
Still, he isn’t eager to single the favorite in multi-race wagers. His first alternative is Jubawithatwist, the 9-2 shot drawn in post 10 for trainer Kristy Petty.
Jubawithatwist’s preparation was unconventional: a September 19 allowance at 4 1/2 furlongs, exactly half Saturday’s distance. He rallied past Time to Rock and Duncan Idaho to win.
Espinosa knew beforehand that the horse would have a substantial gallop-out but hadn’t expected him to beat Duncan Idaho. Now he wonders whether the sprint will sharpen Jubawithatwist enough to secure position quickly before the first of three turns.
That outside draw complicates matters. So does Teachintherelease’s habit of finding more when the distance increases.
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Earlier on the card, Espinosa sees a different potential problem for another odds-on favorite: too much company up front.
Overnight Pow Wow is 3-5 in the $125,000 Cavada at seven furlongs for fillies and mares. The Cynthia McKee trainee has won four straight, most recently beating defending Cavada champion Petty Perfect by 1 1/2 lengths September 18.
But Mama Marge and Mitoleisdynamite bring speed, too. Espinosa expects Mitoleisdynamite, who shares trainer Anthony Farrior and owner Richard Burnsworth with contender Edy’s Flame, to be sent hard. If his reading of the race’s likely tactics is correct, it could make life difficult for the favorite.
Petty Perfect, who sat off the pace to win last year’s Cavada, has a win and a second in her last two starts after a sluggish beginning to the year. She scored in last year’s Cavada by 5 1/4 lengths.
Espinosa also gives a look to Zip Start and the improving sophomore Edy’s Flame, whose trainer acknowledged passing on the WV Lottery for three-year-olds to avoid Charles Town Oaks runner-up At a Premium. Overnight Pow Wow has been excellent this year, he said, but the projected pace leaves room for an upset.
The break could settle the $75,000 Dash for Cash almost as quickly as the pace develops.
Duncan Idaho, an 18-time winner, is even money from the rail. He missed the start badly when fourth behind Time to Rock in last year’s edition and enters off a third-place finish behind Jubawithatwist.
Honeyquist, drawn immediately outside him, reliably leaves the gate running. Espinosa expects both riders to work hard for position and sees Life Is Daily as a potential beneficiary if they become preoccupied with each other.
Elsewhere, Ryan’s Run is even money in the $75,000 Russell Road after winning his first four starts and finishing third in the Robert Hilton Memorial. Espinosa respects improving rivals Coach Siggy and Tricks R for Juba, though the latter finished 10 1/2 lengths behind Ryan’s Run in July’s Robert G. Leavitt.
At a Premium, the Grade 2 Charles Town Oaks runner-up, is 1-5 in the Lottery for three-year-old fillies. Espinosa had hoped she would face Overnight Pow Wow in the Cavada; they will race separately Saturday.
He cautions against assuming the juvenile races will follow their one-turn sprint form, likes On a Pedestal’s gallop-out as she stretches out against Crystal Veil, and calls Distaff contender Malibu Years one of the circuit’s cooler stories.
By the Onion Juice finale, he sees another possible speed battle among Ray of Sunshine, Tico Grande, and Juba’s Notion.
“That race has some meltdown potential,” he said.
For an announcer who likes a closer, that could be a fitting finish.
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