Bracket Buster makes his return in Governor’s Stakes
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Bracket Buster, a winner of more than $792,000 during his first two seasons of racing, will make his 2026 debut in the $200,000 West Virginia Governor's Stakes at Mountaineer Casino, Resort & Races on Sunday, as part of the West Virginia Derby program.
Trained by Victoria Oliver for BBN Racing and Bowen Thoroughbreds, the Vekoma colt has a strong resume. In 2025, he was second in the Grade III Lexington Stakes at Keeneland, won the Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park, finished second in the Grade I Travers Stakes, and was victorious in the Grade III Oklahoma Derby in his final race of the year.
Oliver said the colt returned to training in early December but suffered a series of setbacks that delayed his return. "It took a lot longer than we had hoped," she said.
Bracket Buster was cross-entered in the R.A. Cowboy Jones Stakes at Ellis Park, also on August 9. Oliver noted the Kentucky race, which carries the same purse, is around one-and-half turns rather than two for 1 1/8 miles at Mountaineer.
"We had a lot of races to look at for his comeback that were the most logical," Oliver said. "We think it's easier for a two-turn horse to come back in a two-turn race.
Oliver said when she found out Hall of Famer John Velazquez would be in town to ride Zinhal in the Grade III West Virginia Derby, she contacted his agent. Velazquez rode Bracket Buster to his maiden victory at 1 1/16 miles at Keeneland in October 2024.
"I'm happy he'll on him because he knows the horse and fits the horse."
The Governor's Stakes field includes Neoequos, who was third in the 2025 Grade I Florida Derby; Grade III winner Hall of Fame; and the Chilean horse Mogul, a winner of nine of 16 starts who last out won an allowance race at Gulfstream Park in his United States debut.
WARP NINE PART OF FAMILY REUNION
In April 2025, the Hightail gelding Warp Nine was claimed from his maiden victory for $30,000 at Keeneland by Alaricorns, whose owner is David Funderlich, a businessman who lives in Las Vegas but is a Pittsburgh native.
He and his family members are very familiar with Waterford Park, which is now Mountaineer Casino, Resort & Races. Many of them will gather there Sunday, August 9, when Warp Nine competes in the $200,000 Governor's Stakes.
"It's going to be kind of a family reunion," Funderlich said. "I've been wanting to do this with the right horse."
Warp Nine is having his best season to date with two wins and four second-place finishes in six starts for earnings of $172,000. He has finished second in two $100,000 stakes at Laurel Park in Maryland for Parx Racing-based trainer Harold Wyner.
In his last outing July 4, Warp Nine, a 5-year-old, rallied from last of nine to win a pricey one-mile allowance event at Saratoga Race Course. That set the table for his next race.
"The plan was, it would be great if he ran well at Saratoga, because the Mountaineer race would be next," Funderlich said. "It worked out. This is great, because (Waterford) is where it all started for me."
In April of this year at Keeneland, Funderlich claimed the 4-year-old Profound for $40,000 and shipped him to Wyner at Parx. In three starts so far, Profound has a second followed by two victories in allowance company.
"Harold and I have a business relationship but also a great friendship," Funderlich said. "I look for horses in Kentucky to claim with some potential, then send them to Harold to develop. It's exciting to have two like this."
"That's what makes good horses--a team effort," Wyner said.
First post Sunday is 5 p.m. Admission tickets 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. Doors open at 2 p.m., and there will be live entertainment from 2:30-4 p.m.