Talk Derby to Me

The entries for the West Virginia Derby were announced yesterday, and, I must admit, I'm a tad excited. Gary Stevens will be riding Magna Graduate, and Edgar Prado will be on Isle of Diamond. For goodness sakes, Stevens was in Seabiscuit! And Sunday, we'll see him at Mountaineer. The WV Derby is one of the Daily Racing Form's "Race of the Week" selections, so the past performances are available for free.

The day looks to be chockful of good races -- besides the $750,000 WV Derby (G3), there are the West Virginia Senate President's Breeders' Cup Stakes, the Harvey Arneault Memorial Breeders' Cup Handicap, and the West Virginia Governor's Stakes -- each featuring a purse of $125,000. There are a number of out-of-towners running, featuring such trainers as recent Hall-of-Fame inductee Nick Zito, Bernie Flint, Richard Dutrow, and Bob Baffert.

Check out the all of the day's entries at Equibase.

And Lady Grace, my lucky horse from July 4, is running in the 5th race, a mile on turf for $125,000. She's come far since being claimed last year for $10,000.