While the leading three-year-old males in the country competed in the Haskell (G1) and Jim Dandy (G2) in recent weeks, several hoping to elevate their stock in the division will be in action Sunday in the $500,000 West Virginia Derby (G3) at Mountaineer.
Leading the charge is Dragoon Guard, a Juddmonte homebred son of Arrogate who improved his record to 3-for-4 with a wire-to-wire victory over Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Stronghold in the July 6 Indiana Derby (G3). The Brad Cox trainee could see pressure Sunday from sprint specialist Baxley, but should have enough class to dispense with that rival relatively early and be the one to run down.
Society Man, a surprise second in the Wood Memorial (G2) in early April at odds of 106-1, ran to expectations when 16th of 20 in the Kentucky Derby (G1). However, the son of Good Magic proved more in his element in the June 9 Matt Winn (G3) at Churchill Downs, rallying from seventh and winning going away by 2 1/2 lengths for trainer Danny Gargan, whose Dornoch is widely considered the three-year-old division leader.
Henro earned a 100 Brisnet Speed rating when taking the July 6 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows by a head over Just a Touch, who had previously run second in both the Gotham (G3) and Blue Grass (G1). The Iowa Derby was the stakes debut for Henro, who has finished first or second in each of his last four starts.
The field of nine also includes Agate Road, who is winless since taking the Pilgrim (G2) at Aqueduct over the turf last October. His best finish in two prior stakes attempts on dirt was a second in the Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs in February.
The 1 1/8-mile West Virginia Derby has a post time Sunday evening of 8:15 p.m. ET.
