CT: Crystal Veil makes it a clean sweep in Casey Mem’l
Goes 3-for-3 in WV-bred 2yo distaff stakes
Ted Black
November 1, 2026
Three weeks after winning the Triple Crown Nutrition during the 40th edition of the Sam Huff West Virginia Breeders Classics, Crystal Veil made it a clean sweep.
Charles Town revved up the stakes portion of the calendar for the first time since WVBC night when it presented the $75,000 James & Eleanor Casey Memorial for West Virginia-bred two-year-old fillies Saturday, though only four entered.
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Crystal Veil, with regular pilot Jeiron Barbosa up, loomed the clear choice, having won the track’s two prior stakes for juvenile fillies. Trained by Anthony Farrior for breeder James F. Miller, who co-owns the juvenile daughter of Authentic with Fuzzy Whiz LLC (Amishi Takalgar and Nilhil Takalgar), Crystal Veil was off as the 2-5 favorite. On a Pedestal was the clear 9-5 second choice for trainer Stacey Viands and rider Jose Montano.
When the gates opened in the latest edition of the Casey Memorial, Crystal Veil was able to overcome a slight stumble at the break and assumed command entering the clubhouse turn, with On a Pedestal taking up the chase to offer modest pressure to the favorite. The other two participants, Kickin With Caity and A Notable Nature were reserved well off the top pair and never threatened.
Crytal Veil continued to show the way down the backside and through the far turn under confident handling from Barbosa while On a Pedestal needed a hint of urging to stay just off the leader’s flank. Midway on the far turn, Crystal Veil began to get some separation from her main rival and she edged clear to a two-length score while stopping the timer in 1:29.14 for the seven furlongs.
On a Pedestal was 10 ¾ lengths clear of show horse Kickin’ With Caity, and it was another 8 ½ lengths back to A Notable Nature, rounding out the field.
“She came out of that last race a little sick,” Farrior said of Crystal Vei’s prior triumph in the $75,000 Triple Crown Nutrition Breeders Classic here on Oct. 10. “She missed about a week of training right after that race. I thought she ran well tonight. She’s got plenty of natural early speed and I thought she would get the added distance with no problem.”
Barbosa said the way the race played out only enhanced his confidence in the Authentic filly.
“She made a slight stumble at the break, but then she recovered and made the lead pretty easily,” Barbosa said. “When I looked over [at Jose Montano], I saw he was asking his horse a little bit going into the far turn, and I really hadn’t asked my filly for anything.”
With her victory in the Casey Memorial, Crystal Veil completed a sweep of the three stakes for state-bred two-year-old fillies at Charles Town and now owns four wins and nearly $150,000 banked from five career outings. While Miller is accustomed to greeting his homebreds in the winners’ circle at Charles Town, Crystal Veil is the very first horse that the Takalkars, longtime associates of Miller, have ever owned.
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On Thursday night God’s Pride easily lived up to her role as the 1-5 favorite in a two-turn allowance for state-bred fillies and mares when she galloped by 10 lengths, getting the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:18.79. A sophomore daughter of Upstart owned, bred and trained by Tim Collins, God’s Pride now sports a 4-2-1 slate and $112,000 bankroll from eight career outings, including a gritty second to the stellar At a Premium in the West Virginia Lottery BC…
On Wednesday Sam Huff WV Breeders Classic fifth-place finisher Spotafreeone, with Arnaldo Bocachica up, wore down WVBC Onion Juice hero Dorado to win a state-bred allowance by 1 ¾ lengths in 1:25.94 for seven furlongs. Spotafreeone is trained by Jeff Runco for owner John Link and was ridden by Arnaldo Bocachica. Spotafreeone has won eight of 14 career starts for $216,350 in earnings…
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