The WV Derby – Grade II
MNR   Race #22   1 1/8m   Dirt   Graded Stake
Purse $750.000  For Three Year Olds.

1 Zombie Tomb Raider, trained by Wolfs Den
Well, this one is not winning a prize for the best name, thats for sure, and given that he
has only won twice and has never run in black type company I dont think he will be topping
the selections either. Bought for just $20.000 when winning a maiden claimer, he
has proved a nice claim by following up in a couple of good level overnights since, and
whilst he may struggle at this level, his works show that he isn’t far behind.

2 Reindeer, trained by Triple T Racing
Turned up in The Pegasus last time at over two hundred to one and managed a shock nose
win. He had shown nothing before that to suggest he had that win in him but win it he
did and he sure as heck wont be starting at 200/1 today. The winning time of the Pegasus
was notably slow so i am not sure that that form is solid enough in this better race
but has proved he can do it and with the random nature of the three year old races this
year you cant rule him out doing it again.

3 Overspender, trained by Mb Stables
Ran a decent second in the TAM Derby before a battling sixth in the Wood Memorial. They
were two good efforts, but excluded him from the TC chase, which may have been a blessing
in disguise. He ran second in the Peter Pan in May, coming from behind, but too late for the
third black type race in a row. He finally got the timing right in the Winn, taking the race
by a comfortable length and earning triple digit speed figures in the process. This is a
very nice sort whose only downside is his running style, which can lead to traffic problems
here at HRP.

4 Magnificent Beast, trained by Blushing meadows
Has only raced four times, taking his maiden on the turf back in April before a decent second
in the Plate Trial. He took his chances in the Queens Plate proper after that, but had a wide
draw and a wide draw at CT is almost impossible to overcome. So ignoring that run, he is a
underexposed sort who certainly has the ability and work times to be competitive here, he could
easily turn out to be the dark horse in the race.

5 Twice Patriotic, trained by Gdp Inc
He didn’t look overly special early on in the year but has hit form in his last two and comes
here on a three timer. He won the Long Branch BC last time by a very easy two lengths and is
on the crest of a promising wave. His work times may be a tick off the best of them, but he
is certainly good enough if luck shines his way.

6 Asset Class, trained by Sccj Stables
Won the Coolmore Lexington before running fourth from on the pace in the Peter Pan. He
is held by Overspender on that form and then finished behind Magnificent Beast in the
Queens Plate, so looks like he has a little to find with atleast those two entries. A capable
sort, but he will need things to go his way and a couple of others to falter to be in with a
chance of the win.

7 Edwin Drood, trained by Sanny Village
He had looked pretty good before his run in the IND Derby, but in coming from behind and wide
to win that race, he looked very good indeed. A late run saw him win the Fountain Of Youth before
a decent second in the BG Stakes, but rather than chase the TC, he took a long break and looked an
even better horse when coming back in the IND Derby. On paper he has a huge chance and the widish
draw shouldnt bother him.

8 One City, trained by Kopites
Has been bought and sold a few times for good money, but has yet to really make his mark with his
own generation. He was tested after an easy win in the TUP Derby, and although he did pretty well
in The Rebel, The SA Derby and the Day Mile, he couldnt do better than fifth. He is an untapped
talent and now it falls to Kopites to try and unlock his talent.

9 Laffin Alicia, trained by Joshua Stables
Probably the best worker in the race, but he has yet to put that into racetrack performance. His
only win this year came in a one-win allowance, so he would have to run to his works rather than
his form to trouble these today.

10 Overzealous, trained by Boomtown
Won the Battaglia Memorial before a battling fourth in the Coolmore Lexington before being bought
by his current owner for a very fair $80.000. After a long break, he came out and won an overnight at
SAC in a fair time and looks the sort that may get a piece of this purse. The down side, of course,
is his draw which may mean he is catapulted into the lead, and this will be a tough race to win from
there.

SUMMARY

On form there are two outstanding horses in this race, Overspender and Edwin Drood. That could easily be
the one-two, but I am going for what I hope is some value with Magnificent Beast.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES