West Virginia Derby, at $750,000, Attracts 59 Nominees

Deputy Glitters, High Cotton, and Flashy Bull, the top three finishers, respectively, in the Ohio Derby (gr. II) at Thistledown, and the lightly raced but impressive Bright One are among the 59 nominees for the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. III) at Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort on Aug. 6.

The Derby headlines an all-stakes program of nine races with a special first post of 2 p.m. EDT. The Derby will be broadcast live on ESPN during a Thoroughbred racing show that begins at 5 p.m. EDT.

Other top 3-year-olds are on the list of nominees, but many are scheduled for other engagements. Bluegrass Cat and Strong Contender are expected to race in the Aug. 6 Haskell Invitational Handicap (gr. I) at Monmouth Park. Strong Contender is trained by John Ward Jr., who said his two other West Virginia Derby nominees--Dr. Pleasure and Minister's Bid--would compete in the July 29 Jim Dandy Stakes (gr. II) at Saratoga.

Bright One, trained by Dale Romans, created a buzz during the recent meet at Churchill Downs after a 9 1/2-length maiden victory and 7 1/4-length win in an overnight stakes. Co-owner Mike Bruder indicated Bright One, by Dance Brightly, would be pointed to the West Virginia Derby, which at 1 1/8 miles would be his first race around two turns.

There will be three $125,000 stakes and five $85,000 stakes on the Derby program at Mountaineer.