The WV Derby (Grade 3)- $400.000 Purse
MNR- For Three Year Olds
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
August 3, 2025

In a field of experienced runners, it would be easy to look past Keto simply because the WV Derby was only his third career start. He had looked good in breaking his maiden at SAR last month, and Mb Stables would bring him here for his next start. He was 30/1 on the morning line but took a lot of money in the win pool to actually become the post time favorite. If it was one large bet, then that person is about as happy as Mb Stables is with this result! This is the third win in the WV Derby for the trainer, as prior two victories were with Tactical (2019) and Rowdy Rb (2021). B Curtis is the winning jockey, and it is his first such win. Congratulations to them! The time of the victory was 1:47.67, which is among the better winning times for the race. Here’s a look at it:

(½ Mile- :47.17)- First Flight Stable’s Brooklyn Bash is the early leader out of the gate but will relinquish the top spot to the eventual winner of the race, Mb Stables’ Keto during the opening turn. After a half mile, it’s Keto by half a length on Brooklyn Bash as the Team 7 Illusions- trained Declaration stalks the pace in third. In the middle of the pack, Red Font (John Henry) and Candy Fear Party (Martyparty) run together, and then it’s a break of three to The Golden Age (Mb Stables) and Galaxy Brain (Axeman).

(3/4 Mile- 1:11.11)- Not much changes during this next portion of the race as Keto continues to lead by a length on Brooklyn Bash with Declaration still stalking the frontrunner. Candy Fear Party and Red Font perhaps inch a little closer while The Golden Age and Galaxy Brain are at the back.

(Top of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- Keto continues to show no signs of struggling as he moves up to the graded level, putting away Brooklyn Bash as he extends his lead into the stretch. Declaration also begins to lose ground, falling into the clutches of Candy Fear Party and Red Font. At the back, The Golden Age was showing more interest. The same cannot be said for Galaxy Brain.

(Finish- 1:47.67)- What an impressive debut against winners for Keto, as he cruises to the victory, without really being challenged. Only in the dying moments of the race did some of the margins get cut, so it will look closer than it was in reality. In a three-way photo for place, Candy Fear Party holds off The Golden Age and Brooklyn Bash. Red Font, Galaxy Brain and Declaration round it out.

About The Winner- Keto, trained by Mb Stables and ridden to victory by B Curtis, is a three-year-old gelding by No Doubt About It and is out of Sugar. He was bred in Kentucky by Fractious as a third quarter two-year-old and was acquired unraced by Mb Stables for $32.010 in the September 2024 auction. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his second in three starts and first stake win. His career earnings are now $286.200.

Track: Fast
Time: :47  1:11  1:35¹  1:47³

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 5 – 2 Paid 402.30
$1 Trifecta: 5 – 2 – 1 Paid 682.60

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES