W. Va. Governor's is Best Actor's Graded Stakes Return

Best Actor  makes his return to graded stakes company Aug. 6 in the $200,000 West Virginia Governor's Stakes (G3) at Mountaineer Racetrack Casino & Resort.

This will be just his second start of the year following a June 30 allowance optional claiming race at Ellis Park. The son of Flatter as a 3-year-old last year won the Smarty Jones Stakes (G3), second in the Indiana Derby (G2), and third in the Oklahoma Derby (G3).

As the co-third morning line choice at 6-1, Best Actor has had the greatest success among the field at the 1 1/16-mile distance. Brad Cox's trainee has won 67% of his starts at the distance.

The favorite at 3-1, O'Connor , was dominant in his native country, posting a 9-5-2 mark from 18 starts. But he is just getting accustomed to racing in North America. 

The 6-year-old has 22 races to his resume with just the last four in the United States. Among those is a half-length defeat last time out in the Ghostzapper Stakes (G3) to 21-1 longshot Clapton . He took the lead but brushed with the victor and fell short. O'Connor also finished fourth in the Harlan's Holiday Stakes (G3) and was a non-factor in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1).

Video: Ghostzapper S. (G3)

Rounding out the field are Altmeister  (50-1), Buck Moon  (8-1), Droppin G's  (12-1), Duke of Love  (12-1), Everett's Song  (10-1), Keystone Field  (12-1), King Ottoman  (10-1), Masqueparade  (12-1), Soul of an Angel  (30-1), Surly Furious  (6-1), and War Campaign  (5-1).