READY TO RACE — One of the competitors in Sunday’s West Virginia Derby, Chunk of Gold (inside), is shown during a workout at Turfway Park earlier this year. - Coady Media

When Chunk of Gold made his career debut the week before Christmas 2024 at Turfway Park and squeezed out a neck victory in a maiden auction event at six furlongs, trainer Ethan West was hopeful there were even better things ahead.

But did he expect the colt by Preservationist to have three graded-stakes placings and a start in the Grade I Kentucky Derby within six months?

“By no means at all,” said West, who trains Chunk of Gold for owner Terry Stephens. “We knew the horse had some talent. And we never thought in a million years he could sprint, but he did in his first race. He has been the definition of consistency since (going longer distances). Based on his pedigree, he’s supposed to like dirt.”

The gray colt out of the Cairo Prince mare Play for Gold is one of eight 3-year-olds entered in the $400,000 Grade III West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Casino, Resort & Races on Sunday.

Chunk of Gold in his second start finished second in the Leonatus Stakes on the synthetic Tapeta surface at Turfway and made his first start on dirt in the Grade II Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds. He finished second behind the promising Magnitude, who won by almost 10 lengths and, after being sidelined for a few months, returned to win the Iowa Derby in July by more than nine lengths.

“When we got to New Orleans, he was traveling across the dirt surface well,” West said. “He was more fluent training on dirt.”

Chunk of Gold, generally a come-from-behind runner, followed up with another second-place finish at Fair Grounds in the Grade II Louisiana Derby, 2 1/2 lengths

behind Tiztastic. He picked up 75 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, more than enough to qualify for the first leg of the Triple Crown.

“We were thrilled,” West said. “Going into the Louisiana Derby we were thinking fourth, which would have given him 40 points.” But he earned 50 points with the second-place finish.

Chunk of Gold finished an even ninth in the Kentucky Derby and then finished second in the Grade III Ohio Derby to increase his earnings to $448,818 in six starts. Since then, he has been training steadily at his Turfway base in preparation for the West Virginia Derby.

“It looks like a pretty solid bunch,” West said of the field for the Mountaineer fixture. “East Avenue is a heavy-hitter, and you have McAfee and Brotha Keny. It’s stiff competition. Our only concern is East Avenue getting lose on the lead, but we can’t change our running style to adapt to his.”

Jareth Loveberry, who has ridden Chunk of Gold in his last four races, will ride again in the West Virginia Derby.

Chunk of Gold was a $2,500 purchase by Chris Melton as a yearling at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton October sale in Kentucky. Melton sold a half interest in the colt to Stephens, and after the maiden score in his debut, Stephens purchased the other half interest.

West and his older brother, Aaron, both worked at a small training center in Russell Springs, Ky., before both getting their trainer’s licenses. Ethan West had his first starter in 2018 and since then has won 180 races for earnings of almost $5 million.

West also trains a filly by Preservationist who also won in her career debut on Tapeta at Presque Isle Downs in 2024. Hidden Quarry in June finished third in the Boiling Springs Stakes on the turf at Monmouth Park.

Admission tickets for Derby Day are required for attendance and are available online at the Mountaineer website, at the Mountaineer gift shop, or at the gate the day of the event. Food trucks will be available beginning at 2 p.m., and there will be live entertainment from 2:30-4 p.m.