The West Virginia Derby: A Photo Blog
Having never been to West Virginia or to Mountaineer Park, the adventure was a new one. Mountaineer Park is not a prestigious track like Keeneland or Del Mar, but it was a fun and exciting new place to get up close and personal with horses and horsemen alike.
The National Anthem was first and foremost, as a young girl in a spotted dress took center stage in the winner's circle. Her voice made the crowd stand at attention and appreciate the song and their country.
The stakes action began with the $75,000 West Virginia House of Delegates Speaker's Cup Stakes and Special Ops, a gelded son of Big Brown was the winner. The second stakes race of the day was the $75,000 West Virginia Secretary of State Stakes for fillies and mares going six furlongs. The Archarcharch filly Ivy Bell took over in the stretch to beat favorite I'm a Looker by 1-1/2 lengths.
The race was the first stakes win for the filly after finishing second last time out in the Chicago Handicap (GIII) at Churchill Downs to the top filly Finley'sluckycharm. It was also the filly's fourth win of her career.
Next was yet another sprint race, this time going 4 1/2 furlongs on the main track. The $75,000 West Virginia Legislature Chairman's Cup Stakes was for three-year-olds and upwards. Roman Officer, a gelded son of Roman Ruler, went to the lead and never looked back. The gelding paid $4.20 to win as the post time favorite.
Just like many tracks, fans were allowed to step up to the rail and pet the ponies while they were waiting for the next set of racehorses to emerge.
Next was the $75,000 West Virginia Senate President's Cup Stakes on the turf.
Heading for the first turn, Unbridled Courage (2), Hip Hop N Jazz (7), and Corby (10) all vied for the lead. Unbridled Courage and Hip Hop N Jazz backed off to let Corby take it. Corby nearly stole the show.
However, La Piba (6) ran down Corby in the final strides to get to the wire first with jockey Corey Lanerie aboard. La Pida is a four-year-old filly by Lookin At Lucky and is trained by Brad Cox. This was the filly's first stakes win.
In the very next race, there was yet another close call at the finish. First Growth, at odds of 14.60-1 finished just a neck in front of 6-1 Bucchero.
First Growth, a gelded son of Candy Ride has won or hit the board in 14 of his 19 lifetime starts. He entered the race while riding a six-race winning streak. He paid $31.20 to win and the exacta paid $256.00.
Then it was the $200,000 West Virginia Governor's Cup Stakes, where there were multiple top horses entered, such as 2015 West Virginia Derby winner Madefromlucky, millionaire Page McKenney, and others like Iron First and Matt King Coal, who went off as the post time favorite at odds of 2.8-1.
The start of the race was even for everyone, but a respectable longshot would take over coming home.
The Grade Three winner Fear the Cowboy was victorious at odds of 8.40-1 to defeated Iron First and Matt King Coal. The son of Cowboy Cal has finished first, second, or third in 16 of 24 lifetime starts.
Jockey Jesus Rios had the mount on Fear the Cowboy in their stake score.
The main attraction was the West Virginia Derby. Fans were all cheering for Patch, the one-eyed colt shipped in by trainer Todd Pletcher. The race also included the hard-knocking Lookin at Lee.
The race was an exciting one. Patch had been made the favorite by many cheering fans. There were even eye patches handed out! However, another would be crowned the winner of the West Virginia Derby.
First time by, multiple horses went out for the lead, including Heartwood (10), Colonelsdarktemper (7), and Gave Over (1). Heartwood and Colonelsdarktemper would vie for leadership throughout most of the race, but it would only be one when turning for home.
Colonelsdarktemper was first on the wire, ahead of a hard-running Game Over. The son of Colonel John was coming into the race off a pair of second place finishes to McCraken and Irap. The colt paid $16.00 to win.