The WV Derby – GII
MNR Race 19 1 1/8M – Dirt
Purse $500.000
Three Year Olds
A field of nine will be lining at the free track for their biggest race of the year at Mountaineer. There is a couple of grades stakes winners and Kentucky Derby starts in the field also so it looks like an intriguing race on paper to me. Let’s take a look at the field on nine three year olds and see who the big gun is.
1. Audioslave (12-4-0-3 $184.680), trained by Alydar Stables
This gelding has been on a roll as of late winning his last three in a row including a stake last out at MTH last time which he won by three quarters of a length. He is on a roll and seems to be getting better with every start. He could be a dark horse in this field and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get the win.
2. Minutes Hand (12-2-2-2 $126.590), trained by Mb Stables
Well this going to be the first start for this horse in his new barn for trainer Mb Stables. He bought him after an eighth place finish in the Stephens for two hundred and twenty five dollars. He hasn’t hit the board since running third in the San Felipe and I don’t see much of a turnaround happening.
3. Di Farley (11-4-1-2 $264.100), trained by Gdp Inc
This Di Medici gelding is coming into this race off of some very good efforts in his last couple. He won the Easy Goer two back and then just ran a very big second in his last start in the IND Derby only getting beat a length. He looks like he will be pretty tough to me and has a very good shot.
4. Bad English (12-2-1-3 $180.720), trained by Maxmillion Farm
This gray colt is coming off of a very big front running win in the LA Derby last out here to be honest I didn’t think he would have a chance. I still think that was sort of a fluke win but he could definitely prove me wrong and do it again. Maybe he is that good or maybe he just fluked last time.
5. Tallmadge (11-1-3-2 $313.000), trained by Oquinn Farm
Coming in here off of two seconds in a row and both of them have been in stakes races. He ran second in the Day Mile and then got beat a nose to Di Farley in the Easy Goer last time. He has a shot too I think especially if he can still go on with Di Farley again because I really like his chances.
6. One For Charlie (13-2-2-1 $111.640), trained by TwinTowers Racing
This colt is coming off of a nice allowance win last time at WO where he won by a quarter of a length. He ran pretty good last time but this is a very big jump up in class and I don’t really think he is this caliber of a horse. Maybe he will run a big race and surprise me but I don’t see it happening.
7. Liverpool Rocket (14-3-2-2 $527.440), trained by Estero Farms
Here is a grade one winner in the field and he also ran in the Breeders Cup as a two year old and also ran in the Kentucky Derby this year where he ran fifth and got best by his stablemate Pretty Ferro. He sprinted against older horses last time and ran tenth but I think he will run better in here.
8. Gene Chandler (11-6-0-1 $711.800), trained by John Henry
Here is a horse who was a twelve five claimer at one point and then turned his act around and won the grade one Florida Derby. He didn’t run too good in the Kentucky Derby and then was bought for three hundred dollars and then ran on the turf in the Belmont Derby. I think he has a shot in here.
9. Drift (11-2-2-1 $168.320), trained by D J C Racing Stables
This runner from the D J C Racing Stables barn hasn’t seen the winners circle in a very long time. He hasn’t won since last August when he was a two year old running on the grass. He’s been trying in a bunch of stakes but just hasn’t been able to win any of them. I don’t see him winning here honestly.
Summary
Well this field looks pretty even matched to me and I don’t necessarily see a standout or one that definitely doesn’t belong in here. I think Di Farley is going to my top pick because he is running pretty good right now and looks like he will be pretty tough. Good luck to everyone in the race.
3-7-5-4
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
