Juddmonte homebred Dragoon Guard ‘s similarities to his sire go beyond the physical resemblance.
Even though the gray or roan colt has a long way to go before his track record matches that of the late Arrogate, the 3-year-old shows flashes of his sire.
The most recent example came in the $500,000 West Virginia Derby (G3) at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort Aug. 4.
From Arrogate’s final crop, Dragoon Guard broke well and immediately moved to the front of the nine-horse field and never relented. In his first attempt at 1 1/8 miles, Dragoon Guard won in 1:49.96 on a fast track.
All four of his victories (4-1-0 from five starts) have concluded with multiple-length margins of victory. Sunday night’s triumph was no different, crossing the wire 2 1/2 lengths ahead of Dimatic . Society Man was third and Henro fourth.
Dragoon Guard increased his career earnings to $646,860.
The West Virginia Derby was a perfect follow-up to his Indiana Derby (G3) win.
“It was a solid performance,” said trainer Brad Cox, who won his first West Virginia Derby. “He took another step forward, and we’re very proud of him. We’re not sure about the future schedule for him. We’ll have to discuss that with the owner.”
The only time the outcome might have been in doubt came as he approached the stretch. With Dragoon Guard running two-wide, Society Man tried to sneak in along the rail but Geroux closed down the opening and sealed the victory.
Dragoon Guard paid $3.40 for the win.
Jockey Florent Geroux has been in the irons for all of the colt’s starts.
“The plan was very simple: Go straight to the lead,” Geroux said. “When I did ask him, he had plenty to give. He lost his first race but the last four were nice wins. So far, he has been very good, and this was one encouraging.”
Video: West Virginia Derby (G3)
West Virginia Governor’s Stakes
It was anyone’s race as four horses entered the stretch together, but a rail-skimming move by jockey Florent Geroux guided Hit Show to victory in the $200,000 West Virginia Governor’s Stakes (G3) at Mountaineer Casino & Racetrack Resort.
Off as the second choice in a seven-horse field, Hit Show found himself toward the tail of the field in fifth as Play Chicken lived up to his name while setting fractions of :23.35, :46.93, and 1:11.63.
As the pacesetter faded and favored Extra Anejo , Komorebino Omoide , and the quick-closing Heroic Move swung wide, Geroux dove down to the fence to make it four in a line at the head of the stretch.
Hit Show answered the call and dug gamely along the inside while Heroic Move dueled on the far outside. Hit Show edged away and the lost ground was too much to make up for Heroic Move as he settled for second about a half-length behind. Komorebino Omoide was third and Extra Anejo faded to fourth.
Hit Show paid $4.80 while winning in 1:42.65 for 1 1/16 miles.
A homebred for Gary and Mary West, the 4-year-old Candy Ride colt out of the multiple graded stakes winning Tapit mare Actress earned his first stakes victory since the Withers Stakes (G3) in February 2023. Trained by Cox, Hit Show now holds a record of 5-1-0 from 12 starts for earnings of $778,955.
