How to bet the 2025 West Virginia Derby

An octet of three-year-olds will travel 1 1/8 miles over the Mountaineer Park main oval in the $400,000 West Virginia Derby (G3) on Sunday night. The event seems to be top-heavy with the four horses most fancied on the morning line holding an edge over the rest of the group, and I will center my plays around the quartet.

West Virginia Derby Wagers

$12 exacta 2 with 4,6 ($24)
$1 superfecta key 2 with 4,5,6 with 4,5,6,8 with 4,5,6,8 ($18)

Luis Saez comes in to guide Grade 1 winner #2 East Avenue (8-5), and he is the one to catch and beat in the fray for conditioner Brendan Walsh. By Medaglia d’Oro, the Godolphin homebred has righted the ship after a pair of poor performances with a trio of good tries in succession, which includes a tally in the Matt Winn S. (G3) at Churchill Downs last time out. 

East Avenue, who missed by a nose three back in the Blue Grass S. (G1) at Keeneland, comes in fresh with some good morning works leading up to his first run on this course and should be ready to fire his best shot against this cast. I’m not sure that nine furlongs is his best trip, but the pacesetter will likely have things his own way throughout the tilt. 

#6 Brotha Keny (5-1) traveled wide throughout in the fairly deep Indiana Derby (G3) most recently but still finished a good third at a huge price. The rapidly improving William Morey trainee has blossomed since moving back to the main oval while also having blinkers added, and he could be dangerous in this endeavor with another move forward. The Mo Town gelding has a hint of tactical speed and wouldn’t be a big surprise to me with Joseph Ramos retaining the mount. 

#4 Chunk of Gold (5-2) ran a winning race in defeat in the Ohio Derby (G3) in his last showing and will be equipped with blinkers for the initial time on this day. The Ethan West pupil has checked in second in three of four graded tries on the dirt in advance of Sunday, and if he could stay in range early, then the gray will be a menacing figure inside the final furlong with Jareth Loveberry in the stirrups. 

The Richard Dutrow-trained #5 McAfee (3-1) is a nice fit in this spot coming off a second in the Peter Pan S. (G3) and third in the Ohio Derby (G3) in preparation for this contest. The Cloud Computing colt will be forwardly placed and could get first crack at the favorite at the top of the lane with Esquivel riding. 

Three-time stakes placed #8 Just a Fair Shake (12-1) will have blinkers removed for this one and could grab a share with his best from the outside beneath Torrealba.