Horse Betting World

West Virginia Derby Keeps Getting Better Every Year

By Aaron Huber

A Contentious field of nine has been entered in this year’s edition of the West Virginia Derby (G2). Every year the entries for this race get better and better and this year is no exception. Run at a distance of 1 1/8 miles at the Mountaineer Racetrack and Casino, the West Virginia Derby is an important stepping stone towards the Travers Stakes (G1) to be run 3 weeks later at Saratoga. Interestingly enough none of the horses entered here have ever raced at Mountaineer before, how they will like the track is just one of the question marks hovering over this race.

#7 Concord Point 8/5

His last start was in the Iowa Derby (G2) where he blew away the rest of the field by 8 ½ lengths and set a track record for 1 1/16 miles. In that race Concord Point turned a lot of heads with a career best speed figure of 105. Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Martin Garcia, this is the same duo that has guided Lookin at Lucky to the top of the 3 year old colt division standings. Concord Point looks to be one of the co-favorites at a short price, but he’s a very logical winner here. Horse Betting

#5 Exhi 7/2

Coming off of four consecutive stakes victories including the prestigious Lexington (G2) at Keeneland he is known as something of a PolyTrack specialist. Exhi is a versatile horse who can claim in the money finishes on Dirt, Turf, and Synthetics. Though he has never won before on dirt his last race on June 27th in the Victoria Park Handicap was his first start at 1 1/8 miles where he stretched out beautifully to win by 8 lengths. He has been working on dirt since then at Saratoga and on July 26th fired a bulled work in: 58 4/5 to be the fastest of 78 horses that day. Exhi will likely be a short price and a co-favorite with Concord Point.

#3 Skipshot 4/1

Will be making his fifth consecutive start in a graded stake race here and is looking to get his first win on the dirt after racing exclusively on synthetics as a three year old. Skipshot enters this race off of a first place finish in the Swap Stakes (G2) at Hollywood. Hollywood’s synthetic surface has been mixed with a lot of dirt since last year and many horsemen comment that it plays just like a conventional dirt track. The Swap Stakes was also run at a distance of 1 1/8 miles where Skipshot was able to hold off the heavily favored Sidney’s Candy. Even though his speed figures don’t quite match up to the rest of the field he remains the best choice to beat the two co-favorites Concord Point and Exhi if you are looking for longer odds. Horse Racing Betting

#1 Nacho Friend 8/1

It’s not often that you see a horse with back to back 100+ speed figures listed at 8/1 on the morning line. Nacho Friend’s last start was in the Lone Branch Stakes at Monmouth Park where he ran a good second to Trappe Shot who has emerged as force on the 3 year old scene. Nacho Friend will have to work hard to beat this group, and has never raced before at a distance of 1 1/8 miles. His past performances may suggest that he has some distance limitations as he tends to loose his steam at the top of the stretch. However, horses breaking from the rail have been winning at a 20% clip at Mountaineer. At 8/1 this horse would be an overlay but I wouldn’t expect that price to hold.

#2 Thiskyhasnolimit

He made his last start along with Concorde Point in the Iowa Derby (Grade III) and had to settle for second place. This will be his sixth start in graded stakes company, his only win coming in the Iroquois (Grade III) as a two year old last November. Online Horse Racing

#4 Not Abroad

Chooses to make his graded stakes debut here after finishing second place in the Barbaro at Delaware Park. This horse has run second in his last four consecutive starts, which makes me wonder about his ability to cross the wire first. This race is a big step up in class for him.

#6 Gunfighter

Has won his last three consecutive races with impressive speed figures, but the last two have been against New Jersey state bred company. An intriguing choice at 10/1 but will most likely be running for third place here.

#8 Shookstown Road

This colt is clearly outmatched with his only win coming in a 28k maiden event back in March. However, with even the fifth place finisher getting $15,000 in purse money, can you blame his connections?