West Virginia Derby 2013 at Mountaineer Park

Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 2 West Virginia Derby comes our way from Mountaineer Park this Saturday, August 3. Three year olds will take to the track and go after their share of the nice $750,000 purse as they race 1 1/8 miles on Mountaineer's dirt track.

The West Virginia Derby has attracted a field of nine three year olds for race 8 on Mountaineer's stakes-packed Saturday card. Post time is 5:45 PM. Here is a look into the past performances of all nine combatants for this lucrative Grade 2 stakes.

2013 West Virginia Derby Race Favorites

Overanalyze - Todd Pletcher colt has a trio of impressive wins on his résumé - the Grade 2 Futurity Stakes at Belmont Park September 30,the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct November 24 and the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park April 13. He also had an OK third as 9-5 favorite in the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes October 28 and an ugly fifth in the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct March 2. He was last seen running a disappointing seventh in the Belmont Stakes to follow an equally disappointing eleventh in the Kentucky Derby. He will be looking to bounce back after those poor efforts as one of the more accomplished entries in the field, will have Rosie Napravnik in the saddle and will break from the far outside post carrying the top weight of 124 pounds.

Departing - sat out the Kentucky Derby but entered the Preakness last time out as one of the hotter entries - he finished sixth in that race. He had five starts prior with four wins including the Grade 3 Illinois Derby April 20 and the minor Texas Heritage Stakes at Sam Houston March 2. His only other career blemish? A third in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby March 30 at Fair Grounds. He hasn't raced since the Preakness in May but still enters as one of the more hyped entries for trainer Albert Stall. He starts from post 5 and figures to be one of the best shots at besting the field.

West Virginia Derby 2013 | Remaining Field Entries

Say Ow - Julio Canini pupil has eight career starts with two wins and two seconds but all of those results have come in his last four starts. Needless to say he is in the best form of his career. He broke maiden in May at Hollywood Park and followed that with an Allowance Optional Claiming score on that same track - two straight wins heading into the West Virginia Derby. He steps into stakes company for the first time Saturday but certainly has some momentum. Say Ow has been working at Mountaineer for three weeks and enters as the most improved horse in the field by a long shot.

Betweenherandcool - Steve Asmussen pupil entered the Grade 3 Iowa Derby last time out on a two race win streak - a MSW at Oaklawn Park in April and an Allowance Optional Claiming at Churchill Downs June 2. He finished a very good second to Looking Cool in his graded stakes debut and put his name on the radar for the West Virginia Derby. He now has six career starts with two wins and two second place finished. He has two wins and a second in his last three starts and is an intriguing name to watch ahead of the West Virginia Derby.

West Virginia Derby betting at Mountaineer Park with OffTrackBetting.com

Ruler of Love - won the minor Kentucky Downs Juvenile Stakes in September and has been up and down since. Last time out was an OK third in the minor Coach Jimi Lee Stakes at Arlington Park July 13 after an ugly seventh in the minor Centaur Stakes June 15. He had a couple good results in April - a third in the Grade 3 Derby Trial Stakes and a second in the minor Ocala Breeders' Sales Sophomore Stakes as well. He has placed in three of his last four but hasn't tasted victory since the KD Juvenile in September.

Stratocruiser - Kenny Smith trained colt is coming off a fourth in the minor Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth Park July 7 after a good second in the Grover "Buddy" Delp Memorial at Delaware Park in May - his best career result. He has two wins and two seconds in 11 career starts but races in graded stakes company for the first time Saturday.

Shaler - has seven career starts for trainer Louis Ruberto with just one win (a MSW in his debut, a second (in an Allowance at Presque Isle Downs two back) and a third place finish (an Allowance Optional Claiming June 17). Saturday marks Shaler's stakes debut. He breaks from the rail and is not considered a threat to the favorites in this one.

Mi Sto Divertendo - has eight career starts with just one win - a Maiden Claiming on this track way back in October. This year he has four starts and is coming off two straight fifth place finishes after a ninth and an eighth place finish against lesser competition. He makes his stakes debut Saturday and looks totally outclassed.

Ledokol - has nine career starts but has yet to taste victory so far. He has participated in stakes action however - his last two results have been fifths in minor stakes action - the Oh Say Stakes June 29 and the Jean Lafitte Stakes in October. Saturday marks his graded stakes debut and not a whole lot is expected.

2013 West Virginia Derby Entries & Odds

Race 8 on Mountaineer Park's Saturday card with a Post Time of 5:45 PM.