WINNER AGAIN — Hit Show (outside) races to a second-consectutive win in the West Virginia Governor’s Stakes on Sunday. - Coady Media

Hit Show, who earned $6.9 million earlier this year for winning the Group I Dubai World Cup, successfully defended his title in the $200,000 West Virginia Governor’s Cup Sunday at 1 1/16 miles in a field of seven, but it wasn’t easy.

Though the 5-year-old Candy Ride horse was the morning-line favorite, Not This Boy, fresh off an allowance victory at Churchill Downs, dropped to 3-5 as the pool closed versus 7-5 for Hit Show. The pair hooked up on the far turn of the 1 1/16-mile race and battled through the stretch, with Hit Show winning by a head in 1:43.63.

Brad Cox, trainer of Hit Show, won his fifth West Virginia Governor’s Stakes.

Wathnon Racing’s Hit Show, who rated in fourth until making his move heading into the far turn, was ridden by Florent Geroux, who was aboard last year at Mountaineer and for the Dubai World Cup.

“He’s a tricky horse to ride, which makes it harder,” Geroux said, noting timing the horse’s move is important. “He’s doesn’t draw away from horses, but I still thought I had (Not This Boy) measured.”

Zimmer Ridge Ranch’s Not This Boy, ridden by Luis Saez for trainer Doug Cowans, broke on top from post one and set a measured pace while unchallenged. When the 4-year-old Not This Time gelding was hooked by Hit Show, he dug in and fought to the wire.

Cowans said being on the inside of the duel may have hurt Not This Boy’s chances, but when asked what he thought of the performance, he said: He’s good.”

Jokestar finished third, 7 1/2 lengths behind Not This Boy.

Hit Show, now 10-for-20 and a winner of six graded stakes, is the only horse to have won the Governor’s Stakes in back-to-back years. M B Sea won the race in 2005 and 2007.

Total wagering for the nine-race program at Mountaineer was $2.49 million, up 36 percent from last year and the second-highest figure since 2015.