West Virginia Derby Attracts Dreamy Kid
A field of ten has been assembled for Saturday's Grade 2 West Virginia Derby and Southern California invader Dreamy Kid figures to take plenty of action.
Dreamy Kid, trained by Neil Drysdale, exits a surprise head victory over subsequent Haskell winner Coil, and the improving son of Lemon Drop Kid should be finishing fast under Joe Talamo.
Coil's stablemate Prayer For Relief will break from the rail for trainer Bob Baffert. The Iowa Derby hero projects a ground saving tactical trip under Rafael Bejarano.
Tony Dutrow sends out likely pacesetter Dream Now, and the speedy colt has come a long way since winning a $40,000 claiming race at Laurel Park in February. He went all the way in a pair of minor stakes wins at Delaware and Monmouth and might get brave if left alone early.
{Check out HRN Handicapper Jarrod Horak's West Virginia Derby analysis}
Iowa Derby runner-up Sherriff Cogburn deserves a look in this spot. He won both juvenile outings and has hit the board in a trio of stakes starts since returning from a lengthy layoff.
Awesome Bet got plenty of pace help in the Barabaro Stakes at Delaware Park last time and would appreciate more of the same in this spot. Alan Garcia hops aboard Steve Asmussen's late striding son of Awesome Again.
Little Drama was competitive in the Long Branch Stakes on July 9 but has yet to win beyond seven panels. He reunites with winning pilot Carmouche and figures to sit a stalk and pounce trip.
Invading from Kentucky is Paul McGee's developing colt Infrattini. The late runner was last seen rallying for the place in the Matt Winn but the 1-3 finishers came back to disappoint in the Jim Dandy and Haskell last weekend.
Loranger Native is a consistent Louisiana-bred gelding exiting back-to-back underneath finishes against open stakes company at Charles Town.
The nine furlong Mountaineer showcase also includes Skipping The Score and Fred High.