GI Preakness S. runner-up Tale of Verve (Tale of Ekati) is among a well-matched group of 3-year-olds signed on for Mountaineer's GII West Virginia Derby Saturday. The Dallas Stewart trainee, who graduated at Keeneland Apr. 23, registered that Preakness second in the Pimlico slop May 16 before finishing a well-beaten seventh in the GI Belmont S. June 6.
Bourbon Lane Stable's Bent on Bourbon (Arch) rolls into Mountaineer off three consecutive victories: a seven-furlong maiden special weight under the Twin Spires May 2; an optional claimer there May 29; and the GIII Iowa Derby June 27.
Trainer Todd Pletcher sends out GII Peter Pan S. winner Madefromlucky (Lookin At Lucky) and GIII Dwyer S. third Tommy Macho (Macho Uno). The former was most recently sixth in the Belmont, but the rest and cut back in distance should help. Tommy Macho broke his maiden at Belmont May 2, and annexed an allowance on Belmont day over next-out GII Indiana Derby hero Tiz Shea D (Tiznow).
Live Oak Plantation's Souper Colossal (War Front) was second last time in Monmouth's Long Branch S. The Eddie Plesa trainee kicked off his 3-year-old season with a victory in the Texas Glitter S. sprinting on the grass at Gulfstream Feb. 7 and was second in Monmouth's five-furlong Select S. June 14. Routing and getting back to dirt last out, he set the pace in the Long Branch and gamely kept on to finish second behind Stanford (Malibu Moon), who stayed in Saratoga for Friday's Curlin S. “He's coming to West Virginia in 100% condition,” Plesa stated. “We're ready to roll.”
Regis Racing's $1.55-million Keeneland September purchase Iron Fist (Tapit), one of only four horses who can claim to have beaten Triple Crown winner American Pharaoh, got off the mark at Santa Anita May 25 and went on to annex a one-mile optional claimer there June 28. This will be his first attempt at the nine-furlong distance.
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