Lightly raced Zinhal takes shot at W.Va. Derby
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NEW CUMBERLAND -- Augustin Stables' Zinhal, who has made only four starts in his career but has shown promise, will stretch out to 1 1/8 miles in the $400,000 Grade III West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Casino, Resort & Races on Sunday.
Zihnal, at 6-1 on the morning line with Hall of Famer John Velazquez named to ride, is one of eight 3-year-olds entered in the Derby. The nine-race program begins at 5 p.m.
Zihnal, a Quality Road gelding, was bred by his owner, George Strawbridge. He made his first start for trainer Jonathan Thomas at Santa Anita Park in Southern California in early April and finished an even fourth going one mile in a maiden special weight test.
Thomas then shipped him east to Kentucky, where in May he finished ninth in a 1 1/16-mile maiden event on the turf at Churchill Downs. That was followed by a short trip to Horseshoe Indianapolis, where Zinhal put it together and comfortably won a one-mile-and-70-yard maiden special weight race.
Having gained some confidence, Thomas entered Zinhal in the Grade III Indiana Derby at 1 1/16 miles in July, and the gelding finished fourth. Zinhal was entered in the July 29 Curlin Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, but the races were canceled because of heavy rain. When the Curlin was redrawn for August 2, Zinhal was not among the entries.
"I thought the Curlin was tough enough for the pot ($150,000), and after the way (winner Sea Strike) ran, I was glad we skipped it. But Mountaineer has a good purse, and we're based at Turfway Park, which is closer."
Thomas said the West Virginia Derby gave Zinhal another week plus a few more days to prepare, and the gelding has had two workouts. He said the decision to move the West Virginia a week later than usual helped, and he believes the extra distance will suit Zinhal.
"Between his pedigree and physical makeup, we feel he will go further, but time will tell," Thomas said. "We'll get a chance on Sunday to see what he's all about. And we are very lucky to get Johnny (Velazquez). We have a long history with him."
Also in the Derby field is Florida shipper Baalbek Corp.'s Wayne's World, a Tiz the Law colt who finished second in the Sam F. Davis Stakes and Tampa Bay Downs followed by a fifth-place finish in the Grade I Florida Derby. He is trained by Amador Sanchez, who is no stranger to Mountaineer.
Sanchez trained the Chilean-bred colt Super Ocho, who in 2022 shipped to the United States and made his first U.S. start at Mountaineer in late June. Super Ocho led all the way in a 5 ½-furlong allowance race and won by more than 10 lengths. The colt later competed in stakes including that year's Grade I Breeders' Cup Sprint.
Admission tickets for Sunday 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.