By Mark Patterson
- Mountaineer takes its annual turn in the national spotlight this Sunday when carding a pair of celebrated stakes events that include the (Grade 3) $400,000 West Virginia Derby. The seventy-four year old facility’s preeminent race lured eight at the entry box Tuesday, with Godolphin LLC’s East Avenue, the field’s lone stakes-winner since installed as an 8/5 program favorite.East Avenue, quartered in the blue grass state with Ky -based conditioner Brendan Walsh, took the (G1) Breeder’s Futurity last fall at keeneland. The one-dimensional Front-runner folded badly at long odds in an extremely competitive Ky Derby, but then capitalized on class-relief to wire the (G3) Matt Winn at storied Chuchill Downs. This field’s top earner with just over $900k, East Avenue has not gone postward since the Matt Winn, which might concern seasoned observers aware that winning the West Virginia Derby traditionally requires a more recent start. Those doubts could rightfully be assuaged by the Medaglia d’Oro colt’s bullet best of nineteen drill at his Churchill base last Sunday. Luis Saez, aboard for the June 8 score, will again sit at the controls.Perhaps furnishing primary competition are Terry L. Stephens’ Chunk of Gold and Black Type Thoroughbreds’ McAfee, second and third respectively in a somewhat lackluster renewal of the (G3) Ohio Derby. Both horses raced well within strking distance, only to give late ground to front-running winner Mo Plex, a New York bred found wanting after setting a soft pace in last Saturday’s (G2) Jim Dandy. Not normally a “morning glory,” the Richard Dutrow Jr trained McAfee signaled potentially sharp improvement with a sizzling 46 1/5 half-mile workout at Churchill July 25. Neither McAfee, nor the Ethan West trained Chunk of Gold have won since their respective debuts last fall, each at a mere six-furlong trip, which perhaps reflects a West Virginai Derby renewal somewhat lacking in depth.Those seeking longer odds might consider midwestern shipper Brotha Keny, a stout-finishing third at Hail Mary odds in the July 5th Indiana Derby (G3). Brotha Keny, had for a modest $25k under the auction gavel some two years ago, could exploit this event’s dearth of established stamina, with no entrant having scored at the distance or farther. William E. Morey, notably successful in previous stints at Mountaineer, calls the shots on this Lance and Steve Kinross owned colt.Top class veterans step front-and- center in Sunday’s 7th race, the $200,000 WV Governor’s stakes, a high-profile under-feature that often outshines the richer, more vaunted derby. Back to defend last season’s title, the five-year-old full horse Hit Show brings a staggering $8 million+ in earnings- an all-time record for any horse to compete at Mountaineer- and considerable star-wattage to a predictably deep renewal of the always rock-solid Governor’s. Hit show amassed most of that bankroll with a dramatic upset of the $12 million Dubai World Cup at Meydan (UAE) this spring. A 9/5 morning line favorite, Hit Show most recently gave an also-ran effort in the prestigious (G1) Stephen Foster under the twin spires. Eclipse-winner Brad Cox, the best known conditioner listed on Sunday’s program, should have his charge better reacclimated for this engagement, considering that American thoroughbreds often regress upon returning from the Middle East. French jockey Florent Geroux, aboard in that Dubai shocker, ships in for the call. Hit Show faces a live trio of fellow stakes winners, perhaps headed by resounding last out winner Not This Boy, who posted an extremely high speed-figure in crushing a Churchill allowance assignment.First post Sunday is 5:00 pm, with the West Virginia Derby slated for 8:15.Sent from Outlook
Mark Patterson
