Sunday night’s West Virginia Derby Day card at Mountaineer includes the Grade 3 West Virginia Governor’s Stakes among the late pick 4. I’ve got some highly narrowed opinions on the sequence for a focused ticket. First post is 5 pm ET and the featured pick 4 gets underway in Race 6 at 7:05 pm ET.

Let’s get to work.

Mountaineer | Race 6 | allowance

Outside pair look extremely strong here in #9 Williston Way (3-1 ML) and #10 My Buddy B (5-1 ML). Williston Way comes off back-to-back romping wins and jockey Luis Bautista is the meet’s top pilot in 6-furlong sprints in both wins (15) and win percentage (22%). My Buddy B is 5-for-7 lifetime sprinting, 3-for-4 at Mountaineer and hits a typically productive second-off-the-layoff spot in his form cycle.

Mountaineer | Race 7 | Grade 3 West Virginia Governor’s Stakes

While the far outside is no picnic here at 1-1/16 miles on dirt, #12 Best Actor (6-1 ML) should be ready to romp in his second start at age 4. Dueled a 4-5 favorite into submission June 30 at Ellis and would up second-best at a tough 7-furlong trip off a break. Superb route form at age 3 for trainer Brad Cox, who is 12-29 shipping horses to Mountaineer over the years. The threat would be speedy #6 Buck Moon, who relished the tight turns at Fonner and could clear those inside him easily here and slingshot out of the clubhouse turn with confidence onto the backstretch.

Mountaineer | Race 8 | Grade 3 West Virginia Derby

The Derby sets up as fleet-footed #8 One in Vermillion (4-1 ML) on a catch-me-if-you-can mission and #3 Tapit’s Conquest (4-1 ML) the expected presser to make him sweat late. Really like the company lines Tapit’s Conquest exits that are better-than-they seem. Should get a great trip from a fantastic draw and give Cox a chance to sweep both stakes.

Mountaineer | Race 9 | allowance

Play of the day is #5 Devil’s Red on the move to turf. Trainer Wallace Jenkins has a crazy 11-28 turf record at Mountaineer over the past 3 years, including a 13: 5-3-0 mark with those exiting dirt races like Devil’s Red. More than capable even if this race was to be washed off the turf and onto dirt. Single to close it out.

The Tickets
9,10 with 12,6 with 3,8 with 5 = $4 for $.50 play
9,10 with 12 with 3 with 5 for $1 additional tickets as the preferred play