Study Guide: 2024 West Virginia Derby
Aug 01, 2024
Agate Road (Photo by Coglianese Photos)
The West Virginia Derby (G3) is arguably the most important race contested at Mountaineer each year.
The 1 1/8-mile race for three-year-olds carries a $500,000 purse and has been won by many talented horses in recent years, including eventual Grade 1 winner Cupid.
Sunday's 2024 renewal of the West Virginia Derby has come up deep. Let's meet the nine entrants:
Baxley
Start(s): 4
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: Carolyn Wilson
Breeder: Hidden Point Farm
Trainer: Larry Rivelli
Jockey: Erik Barbaran
Top Speed Rating: (95) when winning a Thistledown allowance.
Total Earnings: $48,293
Sire: Klimt
Dam: Curlamorous
Color: Dark bay/brown
Baxley posted a sharp 95 Brisnet Speed rating in a Thistledown allowance last month, leading all the way to win by 2 1/4 lengths. But he's never run farther than six furlongs, so stepping up in class and distance for the West Virginia Derby could be challenging.
Dimatic
Dimatic (Photo by Coady Media)
Start(s): 9
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 1
Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds
Breeder: Winchell Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Cristian Torres
Top Speed Rating: (96) when finishing fourth in the Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows.
Total Earnings: $314,003
Sire: Gun Runner
Dam: Time to Tap
Color: Chestnut
Dimatic has recorded top-four finishes in the Texas Derby and Iowa Derby, earning respectable Brisnet Speed ratings of 93 and 96. He'll need a step forward to turn the tables on Iowa Derby winner Henro, but another top-four finish is within reach.
Dragoon Guard
Dragoon Guard wins at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Media)
Start(s): 4
Wins: 3
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: Juddmonte Farms
Breeder: Juddmonte
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Top Speed Rating: (95) when breaking his maiden at Keeneland.
Total Earnings: $335,360
Sire: Arrogate
Dam: Filimbi
Color: Gray/roan
Dragoon Guard is riding a hot streak for high-percentage trainer Brad Cox. He's won three straight starts in decisive fashion, most recently wiring the Indiana Derby (G3) by 2 1/2 lengths over Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Stronghold. This Juddmonte homebred has a strong chance to keep his win streak alive in the West Virginia Derby.
Next Level
Next Level (Photo by Hodges Photography)
Start(s): 12
Wins: 1
Place: 2
Show: 3
Owner: Don't Tell My Wife Stables
Breeder: White Fox Farm
Trainer: Keith Desormeaux
Jockey: Jareth Loveberry
Top Speed Rating: (93) when finishing third in the Matt Winn (G3) at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $208,425
Sire: Vino Rosso
Dam: Devious d'Oro
Color: Bay
Next Level has shown flashes of talent throughout his career, even placing third in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) last summer. But he finished behind West Virginia Derby rivals Society Man and Henro when third in the Matt Winn (G3) and seventh in the Iowa Derby, so Next Level needs improvement to turn the tables.
Mugatu
Mugatu (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
Start(s): 14
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 3
Owner: Average Joe Racing Stables and Dan Wells
Breeder: JSM Equine
Trainer: Jeff Engler
Jockey: Ronald Dale Allen Jr.
Top Speed Rating: (93) when finishing fifth in the Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland.
Total Earnings: $88,025
Sire: Blofeld
Dam: Union Way
Color: Chestnut
Mugatu has started in some tough races, finishing fifth in the Blue Grass (G1) and eighth in the Preakness (G1), but his lone victory came over the synthetic Tapeta track at Gulfstream Park. A recent fifth-place finish in the Iowa Derby leaves Mugatu with form to find against the West Virginia Derby field.
Agate Road
Agate Road (Photo by Coglianese Photos)
Start(s): 9
Wins: 2
Place: 3
Show: 0
Owner: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables
Breeder: CHC
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Trevor McCarthy
Top Speed Rating: (95) when finishing seventh in the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds.
Total Earnings: $306,028
Sire: Quality Road
Dam: Yellow Agate
Color: Todd Pletcher
Agate Road has done fine work on turf, winning the Pilgrim (G2) and placing fifth by 2 1/2 lengths against an international field in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). He also ran well when second in the Sam F. Davis (G3) on dirt, though it's worth noting Agate Road has yet to win on dirt (he's 0-for-2 over the surface), and third or fourth place might be the highest finish this stretch-running colt can achieve in the West Virginia Derby.
McQueen
Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: Glockenburg
Breeder: Gun Runner Syndicate and Remington Breeding and Racing
Trainer: Manny Perez
Jockey: Charle Oliveros
Top Speed Rating: (81) when finishing second in an Aqueduct maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $37,622
Sire: Gun Runner
Dam: Bella Verde
Color: Chestnut
McQueen impressed when dominating a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Hawthorne by 7 1/4 lengths, but his career-best 81 Brisnet Speed rating looks a little light against the tougher West Virginia Derby field.
Society Man
Society Man (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
Start(s): 7
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 1
Owner: Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, West Paces Racing, GMP Stables, Carl F. Pascarella, and Yurie Pascarella
Breeder: SF Bloodstock
Trainer: Danny Gargan
Jockey: Corey Lanerie
Top Speed Rating: (102) when finishing second in the Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $437,230
Sire: Good Magic
Dam: You Cheated
Color: Chestnut
Runner-up in the Wood Memorial (G2) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, Society Man struggled in the Kentucky Derby itself, finishing 16th. But he bounced back impressively in the 1 1/16-mile Matt Winn (G3), rallying from off the pace to dominate by 2 1/2 lengths. The 102 Brisnet Speed rating Society Man earned in the Wood Memorial is the highest number in the West Virginia Derby, so look for this capable gelding to be an off-the-pace threat down the Mountaineer homestretch.
Henro
Henro wins at Oaklawn Park (Photo by Coady Media)
Start(s): 7
Wins: 3
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: JD Thoroughbreds and Joey Keith Davis
Breeder: Brereton C. Jones
Trainer: Chris Hartman
Jockey: Rafael Bejarano
Top Speed Rating: (100) when winning the Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows.
Total Earnings: $337,439
Sire: Collected
Dam: Street Minstrel
Color: Chestnut
Henro showed flashes of talent in his first six starts sprinting, but he stepped forward impressively when stretching out over 1 1/16 miles for the Iowa Derby, charging hard once in the clear to beat Blue Grass (G1) runner-up Just a Touch by a head. That victory yielded a 100 Brisnet Speed rating, stamping Henro as a dangerous threat to Society Man and Dragoon Guard.
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