How to bet the 2021 West Virginia Derby

Seven sophomores will travel 1 1/8 miles on the Mountaineer Park dirt in Saturday’s lucrative $500,000 West Virginia Derby (G3). The race lacks a clear standout, but I have a pretty strong opinion about one of the contenders who appears to have a very bright future.

The Brad Cox-trained #5 Warrant (5-2) has won or placed in each of his five lifetime tries to date and comes in fresh for his graded stakes debut. By Constitution, the Twin Creek homebred broke his maiden second time out when going six panels at Fair Grounds, prior to missing by a nose in an allowance race at Keeneland in his first outing against winners.

When the colt stretched out to two turns is when he began to shine. The chestnut was a strong runner-up in the Oaklawn S., which preceded his game tally over a sloppy track in the Texas Derby at Lone Star Park.

Warrant has trained forwardly in preparation of his first run at Mountaineer, which includes a bullet five-eighths move at Ellis Park two back. The Kentucky-bred has tactical speed to always be in range from the start, and I believe that the added distance will be a benefit for the consistently good sophomore. Florent Geroux coming in to guide the talented youngster is a major bonus.

#2 Kinetic Sky (6-1), also from the Cox shedrow, has a logical chance on Saturday when making his stakes debut. The $450,000 Runhappy colt exits a sharp allowance win beneath the Twin Spires, and the Kentucky-bred has the early foot to be a factor from the opening bell in a field lacking a ton of pace. The bay has improved his Brisnet Speed number in each lifetime try to date as well. I am not in love with morning-line choice #4 Mr. Wireless (9-5), but the gelding is a must-use nonetheless. Trained by Bret Calhoun, he ran his best race to date when dominating the Indiana Derby (G3) most recently. Second in the Texas Derby two back, the son of Dialed In will be forwardly placed from the word go under Vazquez.

Wood Memorial S. (G2) upsetter #1 Bourbonic (3-1) went unplaced in two legs of the Triple Crown but will find the class relief to be a benefit. The one-run closer lands in a cast lacking an abundance of pace, but he is well placed on the rail, and his top effort came at the same distance, too. Eric Cancel has the call.

West Virginia Derby Wagers

• $40 win #5 Warrant ($40)
• $2 superfecta key 5 with 1,2,4 ($12)