West Virginia Derby 2014 Contenders & Odds

Las Vegas, NV – Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort in New Cumberland, West Virginia will be the scene of the Grade 2 West Virginia Derby on Saturday, August 2. Three year olds will take to Mountaineer’s main track and go 1 1/8 miles searching for the winner’s share of the very nice $750,000 purse.

A solid field of nine have been confirmed for the Virginia Derby – race 8 on Mountaineer’s Saturday card. Post time is 5:45 PM. Let’s take a peek into the past performances of all nine entries for this lucrative Grade 2 stakes – three of which were unimpressive in the Kentucky Derby.

Candy Boy – highly regarded colt has nine career starts for trainer John Sadler and is coming off a good second behind two-year old champion Shared Belief last time out in the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Derby July 2 He also had a second in the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity behind Shared Belief December 14. He finished a disappointing thirteenth in the Kentucky Derby after an OK third behind California Chrome in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby April 5 and a terrific win over Chitu (with a 96 Beyer Speed Figure) in the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes February 8. He has two wins, three seconds and a third in his last five seven starts and will look to build on a good effort last time out. Candy Boy has been competitive in every race the last year except for the Kentucky Derby, is listed as the 9-5 morning line favorite and is the 122 pound co-top weight this weekend. Corey Nakatani rides from the outside post.

Tapiture – Steve Asmussen pupil has three graded stakes wins, two seconds and two third place finishes in nine career starts and is coming off a nice bounce back win in the Grade 3 Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs June 14 after a fifteenth place finish in the Kentucky Derby. Before that was an OK fourth in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park, a second in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes March 15 and two straight wins – the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes and the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. He has been at or near the top in every career start and like Candy Boy hopes to build on a win which followed an unflattering effort in the Derby. Rosie Napravnik will be aboard the 5-2 second choice from post 5.

Vicar’s in Trouble – Michael Maker trainee was last seen running an OK third as favorite in the Grade 3 Iowa Derby June 28 after a disappointing nineteenth in the Kentucky Derby. Before that he had three wins and two third place finishes in five career starts including two graded stakes wins. He won the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby March 29 after a third in the Risen Star and another win in the Grade 3 Lecomte back in January. Except for one bad outing three months ago Vicar’s in Trouble has been very good, placing in six of seven starts. Alan Garcia has the mount aboard the 3-1 third choice and 122 pound co-top weight from gate 4.

For Goodness Sake – has five career starts for trainer Michael Tomlinson with two wins and a third place finish – his two wins coming in his last two starts. Last time out was an Allowance score at Churchill Downs after breaking maiden on that same track in May. He steps into stakes company for the first time in decent form – off the only two wins of his short career. Brian Joseph Hernandez will be in the saddle from post 2 at 6-1 odds.

West Virginia Derby betting online at Mountaineer with OffTrackBetting.com

Divine View – Larry Jones trained colt has eight career starts with two wins, two seconds and a third place finish and races in graded stakes company for the first time Saturday. Last time out was a second in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Delaware Park July 2 which followed a fourth in his only stakes action to date – the minor Grover Buddy Delp Memorial on that same track in May. He enters in so-so form with Kerwin Clark guiding him from post 7 at 10-1 odds.

Classic Giacnroll – the most experienced of the entries, his 10 career starts produced two wins, three seconds and two third place finishes. Last time out was one of those seconds – an Allowance Optional Claiming at Parx July 8 which followed an OK fourth in the minor Grover Buddy Delp Memorial and an ugly seventh in the minor Private Terms Stakes at Laurel Park in March. Before that was a fourth in the Grade 3 Withers Stakes February 1, a good third in the Grade 2 Jerome Stakes January 4, a second in his stakes debut – the minor Marylander Stakes at Laurel Park December 7 and two wins at six furlongs in September. Classic Giacnroll is 12-1 on the morning line and will have Ken Carmouche in the saddle from post 3.

Gold Appointment – has six career starts with three wins, a second and a third place finish but steps into graded stakes company for the first time Saturday. He enters having won three of his last four starts overall including the minor Crescent City Derby at Fair Grounds in March and an Allowance last time out at Evangeline. Sandwiched in there is an ugly tenth in the minor Louisiana Legends Cheval Stakes in May. He looks ready for his huge step up Saturday and will have Aqustin Bracho in the reins from post 6 at 20-1 odds.

Key for Success – has just four career starts for trainer Tommy Short with two seconds to show for it. Last time out was one of those seconds – a MSW on this track. He makes an enormous step up in competition Saturday as the co-longest shot in the field – 50-1 odds. Rex Stokes rides.

Only I Know – has two wins and a second in seven career starts and enters having raced four consecutive times on this track – with just one second to show for it – that coming last time out in an Allowance July 12. He won his first two career starts – both on this track but failed to place in his next four before last time out. He is listed at 50-1 odds and will depart from gate 8.

Race 8 on Mountaineer Park’s Saturday card with a Post Time of 5:45 PM.