One of many “flyover state Derbies” for 3-year-olds held through the summer time months, Sunday’s Grade 3 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Race Observe and On line casino has been drawing big-league trainers and their prospects over the previous 20 years or so ever since on line casino cash inflated the race’s purse into the $500,000 vary the place it at the moment stands. This 12 months’s renewal drew a aggressive nine-horse area, a number of of which didn’t do a lot through the Triple Crown season however could also be beginning to attain their potential on the monitor.
1. Baxley (20-1 morning line odds): Gelding stretches out to 2 turns after 4 begins at 4 completely different tracks, together with his two wins coming in gate-to-wire style. These have been in five- and six-furlong sprints and it’s tough to see him maintaining with Dragoon Guard for your complete 1 1/8-mile journey.
JOCKEY: Erik Barbaran; TRAINER: Larry Rivelli
2. Dimatic (6-1): Winchell Thoroughbreds homebred has been squaring off in opposition to among the prime 3-year-olds within the Midwest and his kind is getting higher. Posted Equibase Pace Figures within the 90s in his previous three begins, together with a last-out fourth within the Iowa Derby received by Henro. Must be closing late and is a logical trifecta filler on this spot.
JOCKEY: Cristian Torres; TRAINER: Steve Asmussen
3. Dragoon Guard (9-5): A transparent standout primarily based on velocity figures, this Juddmonte homebred is available in off of two front-running wins with the newest being a stellar rating in his two-turn debut within the 1 1/16-mile Indiana Derby. He’s bred to go longer and in case it rains, he’s already romped on an off monitor two begins in the past in a Churchill Downs allowance. An enormous risk to guide this area from begin to end.
JOCKEY: Florent Geroux; TRAINER: Brad Cox
4. Subsequent Degree (15-1): Continues to indicate up in graded stakes with minimal success, though he did rally mildly to nab third two begins in the past behind winner Society Man within the Matt Winn Stakes. Following that, he was a no-threat seventh within the Iowa Derby. His greatest effort may boost the trifecta or superfecta, however he seems to be a minimize beneath a number of of those.
JOCKEY: Jareth Loveberry; TRAINER: Keith Desormeaux
5. Mugatu (20-1): One other late grinder that has tried to make an affect in big-time races and failed to date. He was fifth within the Iowa Derby final out and confirmed little. Most of his higher races have come on an all-weather monitor, and as such he’s in a troublesome spot right here.
JOCKEY: Ronald Allen Jr.; TRAINER: Jeff Engler
6. Agate Highway (5-1): His connections have tried him on each turf and filth and regardless of a runner-up end in a Kentucky Derby prep at Tampa Bay Downs again in February, he appears higher suited to the grass. Nonetheless, he’s proven sufficient stamina in a few of his races to benefit consideration in exacta and trifecta bets.
JOCKEY: Trevor McCarthy: TRAINER: Todd Pletcher
7. McQueen (30-1): Is available in off of a blowout maiden win in a 1 1/16-mile maiden race at Hawthorne that was washed off the turf. That outing adopted a layoff of almost six months when he was transferred from Todd Pletcher’s barn to his present coach. His velocity figures don’t match up with morning-line favourite Dragoon Guard, however this Gun Runner colt may maintain that one firm for some time on the entrance finish and outrun his odds.
JOCKEY: Charle Oliveros; TRAINER: Manny Perez
8. Society Man (9-2): Jumped on the Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve path with a runner-up end within the Wooden Memorial Stakes Offered by Resorts World On line casino at odds of 106.75-1. Ran 16th within the Derby however then confirmed the Wooden effort was no fluke with a pointy win within the Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill. This gelding might want to sit nearer to the projected tempo set by Dragoon Guard to have an opportunity, but when he can handle that journey he can submit the delicate upset.
JOCKEY: Corey Lanerie; TRAINER: Danny Gargan
9. Henro (3-1): Stretched out to 2 turns efficiently within the Iowa Derby in early July to outfinish closely favored Brad Cox trainee Only a Contact and win by a head. Squares off in opposition to one other blue-blood Cox runner on this race (Dragoon Guard), however he’s been enhancing in kind relationship again to spring at Oaklawn Park. He could possibly be within the combine if he can proceed his upward development.
JOCKEY: Rafael Bejarano; TRAINER: Chris Hartman
THE PICK: Society Man
LIVE LONGSHOT: McQueen
SUPERFECTA: 8-3-9-2
