Saturday is a favorable day for West Virginia bettors to attend live racing at Mountaineer Park in New Cumberland.
The premier card of the track will commence with a special post time of 2 p.m. Mountaineer will be generously distributing over $1 million in prize money, featuring races such as:
- $500,000 West Virginia Derby
- $200,000 Governor’s Stakes
- There were five stakes announced, each valued at $75,000.
Jim Colvin, the racing director for Mountaineer, expressed his enthusiasm as he declared, “Today marks the pinnacle of our season, and we couldn’t be more thrilled that it has finally arrived.”
“We anticipate a substantial turnout as we have curated an exceptional lineup for the West Virginia Derby. Today is a momentous occasion that extends beyond the county’s borders, encompassing the entire state in its significance.”
Residents of the Mountain State have a few choices to get in on the action. They can either attend the card in person or place their bets on it, along with the top Saturday races in the country, through TVG.
Analyzing the West Virginia Derby field
There are three horses in this field that have achieved great success on the Triple Crown circuit.
Skippylongstocking
The horse is really finding his stride. After securing fifth place in the Preakness Stakes, he followed up with a commendable third place finish in the Belmont Stakes.
How about considering West Virginia? It could emerge as a strong contender in the early stages, alongside the collective power of We the People.
We the People
For a significant portion of the Belmont Stakes, We the People held the lead, closely pursued by Skippylongstocking. If they maintain a similar level of performance, there is a high chance that they will finish in the top two positions at the end of this 1 1/8-mile race.
Both parties benefit more from a shorter distance.
Simplification
Trainer Antonio Sano revealed that Simplification was the fastest horse at Gulfstream a week prior to their journey to West Virginia. He also mentioned that the stable’s main goal is to participate in the Grade 1, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing on September 24, right after the West Virginia Derby.
Simplification performed admirably, securing a commendable fourth place in the Kentucky Derby. Consequently, he might find himself in an advantageous position for stalking in this current race.
Lesser-known West Virginia Derby entrants
The entries that are not part of the Triple Crown also offer some distinct perspectives.
Home Brew
Hall of Fame trainer Brad Cox decided to hold Home Brew out of the $1 million Haskell Stakes, a race held at Monmouth Park in New Jersey, and instead entered him in the West Virginia Derby. Home Brew proved to be a dominant winner of the Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park, while Cox secured victory in the Haskell Stakes with Cyberknife.
He possesses strong stalking abilities and has a good drive to finish off opponents. However, in order to compete, he will require a fast and intense pace. Home Brew has not yet proven himself at the $500,000 level, but Cox believes that this race could be the turning point for him.
Courvoisier
Courvoisier engaged in an early duel but succumbed to Early Voting, who emerged victorious in the Withers and went on to claim the Preakness Stakes. Although Courvoisier seemed to lose momentum, he now has a final opportunity to showcase his abilities on a grand stage.
King Ottoman
In the Indiana Derby, King Ottoman finished third. However, the horses who outperformed him, Actuator and Best Actor, will not be participating in this upcoming race. It’s worth noting that previous winners of the Indiana Derby, such as Mr. Wireless from the previous year, have gone on to triumph in this particular event.
King Ottoman, who finished third in the derby, had achieved a commendable position considering the circumstances. It is worth noting that his trainer, Steve Asmussen, holds an impressive record of winning the most West Virginia Derbies, with a total of five victories.
Here are all of the horse races happening at Mountaineer Park
Take a glance at the $75,000 races, as the card is filled with solid competitors from start to finish.
- The second race of the Speaker’s Cup features a field consisting of twelve participants.
- There are 10 contestants in race three, according to the Secretary of State.
- In the fourth race of the Chairman’s Cup, a total of eight participants will compete.
- Race five of the President’s Cup features a lineup of 12 competitors.
- There were seven contenders in race number six, and Robert Byrd was one of them.
In the larger fields, bettors can find favorable odds. Often, exceptional horses go unnoticed in such scenarios, leading to surprisingly generous payouts from time to time.
Mr. Wireless, the previous winner of the West Virginia Derby, faces a challenging field of 10 competitors in the $200,000 Governor’s Stakes following the conclusion of the $75,000 races.
The race commences at 4:55 p.m., and the West Virginia Derby ensues at 5:35 p.m.
The following is the lineup for the West Virginia Derby, drawn on Monday. It features a group of horses that have gained attention in the Triple Crown series, despite not claiming victory in any of the prestigious races.
The list below displays the post position, trainer, and jockey for each horse.
- Gift from Jr: Hector Andrade and Thiago Canuto
- Simplified: Antonio Sano and Jose Lezcano
- Brad Cox and Paco Lopez: A Dynamic Duo in Home Brewing
- Steve Asmussen and Brian Hernandez Jr. are under the patronage of King Ottoman.
- Kelly Breen and Deshawn Parker are associated with Courvoisier.
- Rodolphe Brisset and Ricardo Santana Jr., the People
- Saffie Joseph Jr. and Edwin Gonzalez, also known as Skippylongstocking.
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