Trainer Danny Gargan, is enjoying the best year of his career with two Grade 1 wins from Dornoch and a steady income of more than $3.2 million, which can increase that amount as Society Men August 4 race in the $500,000 West Virginia Derby (G3) at Mountaineer Casino & Resort.
Matt Winn Stakes (G3) winner and Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) runner-up will battle Indiana Derby (G3) winner Dragoon Guards Iowa Derby winner henro and six other 3-year-olds in the 1 1/8-mile dirt track race.
Aside from being trained by Gargan, Society Man shares other similarities with Dornoch. Both are sons of good magic Although Dornoch is a colt and Society Man is a gelding, West Paces Racing is co-owner of both horses.
Society Man races for Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, West Paces Racing, GMP Stables and Carl and Yurie Pascarella. West Paces Racing is also an owner in Dornoch, along with RA Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing and Pine Racing Stables.
Gargan nominated Society Man for the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) on July 27 at Saratoga Race Track but dropped out of the race, the reigning 2-year-old male champion Aggression won the Kentucky Derby (G1) runner-up Sierra Leone He told the New York Jockey Association that he thought Society Man was “better suited to the West Virginia Derby.”
“I like the timing. If he can win the West Virginia Derby, we could see him back at Parx,” he said of the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) on September 21. “I’ve got him on that track.
“Look, he’s a gelding, and he’s going to live a long time. We’re just trying to figure out the best path for him to continue to live a good life.”
Society Man has a 2-1-1 record in seven starts with earnings of $437,230. Corey Lanerie, aboard Matt Winn, will ride Mountaineer back on Sunday.
Juddmonte’s Dragoon Guard, a three-time winner following his second appearance last September at Churchill Downsemerged as a formidable contender after a 2 1/2-length lead in the Indiana Derby (G3) on July 6 at Indianapolis Horseshoe.
Florent Geroux entered riding Dragoon Guard, a colt by Arrogate, trained by Brad Cox. Along with Society Man, Dragoon Guard had a high weight in the field at 120 lbs.
JD Thoroughbreds and Joey Keith Davis’ Henro defeated Cox-trained stablemate Dragoon Guard Just one touch in winning the Iowa Derby at Prairie same day as the Indiana Derby. First time routing, Henro, a Collected gelding, standing closer than usual from the initial pace and finishing late to score points after catching up with the leading horses.
Rafael Bejarano returns as trainer for Chris Hartman on the little chestnut stallion, with a 3-1-0 record in seven starts.
All nine West Virginia Derby participants used the diuretic Lasix, which is not allowed in graded horse racing anywhere in the United States but is allowed in West Virginia, which does not operate under the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Administration. The state won a preliminary injunction two years ago in one of several lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of HISA.
Sunday’s card is twilight horse racing with first post at 5 p.m. ET. The West Virginia Derby is scheduled for 8:15 p.m.
Item: West Virginia Derby (G3)
Mountaineer Casino & ResortSunday, August 4, 2024, Race 8
- Level III
- 1 1/8 minutes
- Dust
- $500,000
- 3 years old
- 8:15 PM (local time)
