2016 West Virginia Derby Preview, Entries & Odds

OffTrackBetting.com – The Grade 2 West Virginia Derby takes place this Saturday, August 6 at Mountaineer Park in New Cumberland, West Virginia. A nice purse of $750,000 will be on the line for horses three years old willing to go 1 1/8 miles on Mountaineer’s dirt track.

A full field of 12 plus one Alternate Entry have been confirmed for the West Virginia Derby – race 8 on Mountaineer’s Saturday schedule. Post time is 5:21 PM. Here is a peek into the past performances of all 13 possible entries for this Grade 2 stakes.

2016 West Virginia Derby Race Preview at Mountaineer Park

Cupid 3-1 – Bob Baffert trained colt has three wins and a runner-up finish in seven career starts. He enters this week off a nice win in the Grade 2 Indiana Derby July 16 which followed two unflattering results – a fifth in the minor Easy Goer Stakes at Belmont Park June 11 and a tenth in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park in April. He also had a good win in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes in March. Cupid has won two of four graded stakes tries and off one of those wins has to be in the conversation Saturday. He departs from the rail hoping to build on a terrific effort with Rafael Bejarano in the saddle of the 122 pound highweight and morning line favorite.

Economic Model 4-1 – Chad Brown trained colt has six career starts with three wins and two runner-up finishes. He enters off a decent second in the Grade 3 Dwyer Stakes at Belmont Park July 9 after a two race win streak – the minor Easy Goer Stakes with a field best 101 Beyer Speed Figure June 11 and an Allowance Optional Claiming by four lengths May 4. Before that was an uncharacteristic ninth in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby in March and a respectable second to Awesome Banner in the Grade 2 Swale Stakes at Gulfstream Park January 30. He arrives in very good form and chases his first graded stakes score from post 9 Saturday. Kendrick Carmouche rides the morning line second choice.

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Suddenbreakingnews 9-2 – Donnie Von Hemel trained gelding has placed in seven of 10 career starts – three wins and four runner-up finishes. Last time out was a disappointing ninth in the Belmont Stakes after an OK fifth in the Kentucky Derby May 7, a respectable second behind Creator in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby April 16 and a fifth in the Grade 1 Rebel Stakes. He had a good win in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes February 15 and also won his stakes debut – the minor Clever Trevor Stakes at Remington Park in November. Suddenbreakingnews has been OK overall but hopes to snap a string of two straight off-the-board finishes from the outside post 12 Saturday. Luis Quinonez has been tabbed to ride the morning line third choice.

Mo Tom 5-1 – Tom Amoss trained colt has four wins and three third place finishes in nine career starts. He won the minor Street Sense Stakes in November and went to on to a good win in the Grade 3 LeComte Stakes at Fair Grounds in January and a third in the Grade 2 Risen Start Stakes February 20 also on that track. Last time out was another win – the minor Ohio Derby at Thistletown June 25 which followed an eighth in the Kentucky Derby and a fourth place finish in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds March 26. Mo Tom has been a tad inconsistent lately but chases his second straight stakes score from post 3 Saturday. Joe Bravo has the mount on the intriguing fourth choice.

Adventist 8-1 – Leah Gyarmati trained colt makes his seventh career Saturday having posted a win at first asking – by an astounding 11 lengths as favorite December 19, a second and three straight third place finishes. Last time out was an OK second in the minor Ohio Derby at Thistletown June 25 after a fourth in the Grade 2 Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park May 15 and a third in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial April 9. His other thirds came in the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes March 5 and in the Grade 3 Withers Stakes January 30. Adventist has been competitive every time out and is expected to be again Saturday. Aaron Gryder has been tabbed to ride from gate 8.

Forevamo 8-1 – has nine career starts for trainer Albert Stall with two wins and four second place finishes. Last time out was an Allowance Optional Claiming score at Churchill Downs June 26 after a good second in the Grade 3 Pat Day Mile, a fifth in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby in March and a decent second behind Gun Runner in the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes in February. Forevamo has placed in four of five starts ahead of this weekend and will be chasing his first stakes score Saturday. Florent Geroux will be in the saddle from post 11.

No Distortion 8-1 – Larry Jones trained colt has three wins, two seconds and two third place finishes in 11 career starts. He makes his graded stakes debut on a two race win streak – the minor Long Branch Stakes last time out at Monmouth Park July 9 and an Allowance Optional Claiming at Delaware Park in June. No Distortion arrives in career best form and will depart from gate 2 Saturday with Gabriel Saez in the saddle.

Name Changer 15-1 – Alan Goldberg trained colt has placed in four of five career starts – two wins, a second and a third place finish. Last time out was an Allowance score at Parx July 2 which followed a second in an Allowance Optional Claiming on that track June 11 and a fourth in a similar race at Belmont Park in May. Name Changer steps into stakes company for the first time Saturday from gate 6 Saturday with Jevian Toledo in the irons.

Pinson 20-1 – has just one win, two seconds and a third place finish in nine career starts for trainer Michael Maker. He makes his stakes debut Saturday off a second in an Allowance Optional Claiming June 26 and a third and a sixth respectively in a pair of similar races earlier this summer. Pinson steps up in so-so form and will depart from gate 4 with Corey Lanerie guiding him.

Whateverybodywants 30-1 – has four career starts for trainer Kellyn Gorder with two wins and a third place finish. He made his graded stakes debut last time out and finished fourth in the Grade 2 Indiana Derby July 16 after a win in the minor Prairie Mile Stakes June 10 and a maiden score at Arlington in May. Whateverybodywants has been in every race so far and hopes for a major breakthrough Saturday from post 5. A yet-to-be-determined jockey will guide him from post 5.

Anaximandros 50-1 – Mikhail Yanakov trained colt has two wins and a second place finish in four career starts. He makes his stakes debut Saturday on a two race win streak – an Allowance Optional Claiming last time out June 26 and a maiden score May 20 – both at Gulfstream. He steps up in decent form indeed and will have Leonel Reyes guiding him from gate 10 Saturday.

Van Damme 50-1 – has 13 career starts for trainer Robert Gorham with two wins, three seconds and a third place finish. He makes his graded stakes debut Saturday off a fifth in the minor Ohio Derby at Thistletown June 25, an Allowance score on that track May 18 and a fourth and a second respectively in Allowance races this past spring. Van Damme steps up in so-so form and will depart from post 7 with TD Houghton in the reins.

Fort Pulaski – Alternate Entry – Danny Pish trained colt has won both career starts – an Allowance last time out July 9 and a maiden score June 22 – both at Evangeline. He may leap into stakes company for the first time in decent form and if he does will have Colby Hernandez in the reins.

2016 West Virginia Derby Entries & Odds

Race 8 on Mountaineer Park’s Saturday card with a Post Time of 5:21 PM.