Dragoon Guard impresses, wins West Virginia Derby
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Heading into the $500,000 Grade III West Virginia Derby, trainer Brad Cox said the connections were hoping to see Dragoon Guard get more experience and take another step forward. The 3-year-old Arrogate colt met those expectations at Mountaineer on Sunday evening.
The Juddmonte Farms' homebred built upon a gate-to-wire victory in the Grade III Indiana Derby in his previous start July 6 with another front-end score in his first attempt at the 1 1/8-mile distance. He faced little pressure turning for home from Society Man, who was in contention throughout and held well for third, and Dimatic, who rallied from fourth to finish second, 2 ¾ lengths behind the winner.
Henro was an even fourth, followed by Agate Road and McQueen in the six-horse Derby field.
The final time was 1:49.96 on a track rated fast. Dragoon Guard, the heavy favorite, returned $3.40 to win.
"It was a solid performance," said 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."
Florent Geroux has ridden Dragoon Guard in all five of races, in which the colt has taken forward steps in his development. The jockey indicated the West Virginia Derby represented more progress.
"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."
Dragoon Guard is now four-for-four in 2024 after finishing second, beaten a neck, in his career debut as a 2-year-old last September at Churchill Downs. His earnings now stand at $625,860.
HIT SHOW WINS WV GOVERNOR'S STAKES
Gary and Mary West's Hit Show rebounded from a seventh-place finish in the Grade III Cornhusker Handicap with an eventful score as the second choice in the Grade III West Virginia Governor's Stakes on the West Virginia Derby undercard.
Ridden for the third time in a row by Florent Geroux, Hit Show as usual was taken off the early pace in the 1 1/16-mile stakes while the longshot local runner Play Chicken broke from the gate on top and set an honest pace for more than six furlongs with second choice Extra Anejo rating in second.
Hit Show had commenced a rally from the back of the pack, and as the field bunched up approaching the top of the stretch, Geroux had to decide whether to wait or duck inside. He guided the 4-year-old Candy Ride colt inside toward the rail, found a seam and Hit Show continued his rally along the rail to victory.
"It was the only option I really had, and the only spot that was not taken," Geroux said. "He was traveling great the whole race, and I had a decision to make."
Hit Show won by a half-length over Heroic Move, with Komorebino Omoide another three-quarters of a length back in third. Slight favorite Extra Anejo was fourth.
Hit Show returned $4.80 to win and completed the distance in 1:42.65 on a track rated fast.
"He ran really well," said Cox, who like Geroux won both of Mountaineer's top races in the same year. "He really had to dig in to get the job done."
MILLIONAIRE NECKER ISLAND MAKES TRIP WORTHWHILE
The Derby program featured the first local appearance of millionaire Necker Island, who reported home first in a $35,000 open allowance test at six furlongs in 1:10.04. It was the 10th victory in 42 starts for the 7-year-old Hard Spun horse who is trained by Chris Hartman for Wayne Scherr.
Hartman brought Henro to Mountaineer for the West Virginia Derby and had Necker Island tag along for the ride from Churchill Downs in Kentucky. It paid off for the connections.
"He was on the last road trip to Prairie Meadows when Henro won the Iowa Derby," Hartman said, "and he ended up winning the Iowa Sprint Stakes. We wanted to give him a little confidence booster and get his mind back in the game. We're happy to back in the winner's circle, back-to-back."
The well-traveled Necker Island is a four-time stakes winner with earnings of almost $1.2 million.
NOVELTY SPRINTS THREATEN TRACK RECORD
In other action on the Derby program, trainer Jami Poole confirmed that he claimed Emporerofthedark for $4,000 July 15 at Mountaineer for Hubel Farms with the express purpose of trying the speedball in the Promised Cruise Purse at two furlongs. Emporerofthedark, a 6-year-old Conveyance gelding, ended up getting the winner's share of the inflated $15,000 purse.
The originally posted finish time of :20.69 would have broken the record of :21 set by Promised Cruise in 1990. But after a quick review, the time was adjusted to :21.73--not a new record but the fastest at the distance in quite some time.
Emperorofthedark was claimed for $4,000 from the race by trainer Juan Pablo Silva, who is among the leaders in the Mountaineer trainer standings.
In the $15,000 Huntress Helena Purse for fillies and mares, Miss Nuckols, a 5-year-old mare owned and trained by Marshall Godsey, won her fourth consecutive two-furlong event at Mountaineer in :21.84. She, too, was claimed, for $4,000 by Wilson Langley.