How to bet the 2026 West Virginia Derby
August 7th, 2026
An octet of sophomores will travel 1 1/8 miles on the Mountaineer main oval in Sunday’s $400,000 West Virginia Derby (G3). #5 Zihnal (6-1) has been entered in numerous stakes races this campaign and looks to have found his best spot to shine for trainer Jonathan Thomas. The well-bred son of Quality Road has run positive races in each of his trio of lifetime tries on the dirt, which includes a fourth-place result in the Indiana Derby (G3) last time out.
West Virginia Derby Wagers
- $15 win and place #5 Zihnal ($30)
50-cent superfecta 5 with 3,4,7 with 3,4,7 with all ($30)
The Triple Crown-nominated gelding has the pace from the gate to be involved throughout the nine-furlong event, and he will race with blinkers on for the initial time, too. Zihnal has posted a trio of morning drills leading up to his first run on the surface, and I expect him to be forcing the pace early before inching clear late. John Velazquez coming in to ride adds to his appeal, as well.
#4 J J Grey (2-1) has won his last four races on the main oval in advance of the event, and the son of Street Boss will be a formidable foe on this occasion. The gray colt has yet to run here or at the distance, but the sophomore has been pulling away late in his races at 1 1/16 miles and will have no trouble negotiating the added ground on Sunday. Manny Esquivel will be in the irons and putting the morning-line choice in the mix from the opening bell.
Ben Colebrook’s Grade-3-winning #3 Trendsetter (5-2) has thrived since stretching out in distance as of late and is a fine fit at this level in general. The bay gelding possesses both tactical speed and a nice closing kick, and the $130,000 son of Modernist, who was third in the Ohio Derby (G3) most recently, could get a nice setup in the tilt with regular pilot Kazushi Kimura in for the voyage.
#7 Wayne’s Law (8-1) adds blinkers for the initial time and is the most intriguing long shot in the cast for me. The stakes-winning son of Tiz the Law had a decent prep for this when third in the Carry Back S. last time out, and his best races to date have come going long on the main oval. The talented Florida-bred was not embarrassed when just 6 1/2 lengths back in a loaded field in the Florida Derby (G1) in the spring, and a repeat of that outing will make him a player late with Diego Herrera in the silks.
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