Pennsylvania Derby is 1 of several options for Chunk of Gold

Trainer Ethan West is considering other options besides the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby for Chunk of Gold's next start.

"There's a bunch of races next week, so we're going to kind of take a look at them and see what's going on. See which spot we like the best," West told Horse Racing Nation on Wednesday. 

Those other options include the Bourbon Flight at Churchill Downs next Saturday, the same day as the Pennsylvania Derby, and the St. Louis Derby at Fairmount Park next Friday. Chunk of Gold is nominated for all three.

Chunk of Gold is coming off two strong works at Turfway Park, West's home base. He breezed five furlongs on the synthetic track Wednesday in one minute flat and four furlongs last week in 47.4 seconds. Both were fastest of 26 and 24, respectively, at the distance.

"He's going to this next spot, wherever we land, just as good as he has been his last couple of races," West said. "He's matured a lot physically, he's gotten a lot thicker, putting more into his training. He's a healthy, happy horse right now."

The Preservationist colt, purchased for $2,500 as a yearling and owned by Terry Stephens, is having a remarkable year. His ninth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby is the only time in nine starts that he didn't finish first or second. His wins came in his first race and his most recent, a gate-to-wire victory by 4 1/4 lengths in the West Virginia Derby (G3) after West added blinkers.

Chunk of Gold's runner-up efforts include the Ohio Derby (G3) and the Risen Star (G2) and Louisiana Derby (G2) on the Kentucky Derby trail.