Lucy's Bob Boy didn't give the bridge-jumpers a scare when he took the early lead and coasted in workout-like fashion to win the $51,200 Confucius Say Stakes at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races April 20 (VIDEO).
Lucy's Bob Boy, owned by Michael Furr and trained by Sandra Dono, had been considered for the $1.5 million Charles Town Classic (gr. II) later on the program. His presence in the six-horse West Virginia-bred stakes triggered a show pool of $632,977; West Virginia pays no less than $2.20 on a winning bet.
With Gustavo Larrosa aboard once again, Lucy's Bob Boy was under no pressure through fractions of :24.79 for the opening quarter-mile and :48.97 for a half-mile. He picked up the pace through six furlongs in 1:12.49 and drew away to win the seven-furlong Confucius Say by five lengths in 1:25.05 on a fast track.
The winner, bred by Robert Furr Jr., paid $2.20 across the board. Rummy's Command ($5.40, $3.40) was second, with Fred High ($2.60) third.
Lucy's Bob Boy, a 4-year-old gelding by Flatter out of the Not For Love mare Love for Lucy, has raced 14 times, all of the races at Charles Town. He has 11 wins and three seconds for earnings of $470,530.
The gelding won last year's $500,000 West Virginia Breeders' Classic Stakes.
"He ran the way we thought he would run," Dono said. "Gustavo (Larrosa) saved him; he didn't use him too much. He's an interesting horse to train. He goes with a pony every day, and Gustavo is the only one who gets on him."
Michael Furr said Lucy's Bob Boy could make his first start away from Charles Town in his next start, which is slated for May 20, Preakness Stakes (gr. I) day at Pimlico Race Course. If he goes, he would race in the six-furlong Maryland Sprint Handicap (gr. III) at six furlongs.
The total win, place, and show pool for the Confucius Say was $830,559.
