WV Governor's Stakes Offers Chance to Regain Form

Redemption is the theme for the $200,000 West Virginia Governor's Stakes (G3) at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort Aug. 4.

Breaking from along the rail will be Extra Anejo . The Steve Asmussen-trained son of Into Mischief   is also trying to revert to good form. He last finished seventh in the Hanshin Stakes. It's the only time in six starts he has finished worse than fourth. 

Sunday will mark just the third start of the year for the colt who won an allowance optional claiming race in May to open his 4-year-old campaign.

Heroic Move  is also among the entries who are eyeing a return to the winner's circle.

Last time out, Quality Road  's 4-year-old son didn't have enough to rally in the 1 1/8-mile Cornhusker Handicap (G3) after running midpack and finished sixth. Cutting back a half-furlong might prove beneficial to the winner of this year's Steve Sexton Mile Stakes (G3), who has won at the distance once before—by nearly five lengths in an allowance earlier this year.

Gary and Mary West's homebred Hit Show  also struggled in the Cornhusker (seventh) and will break from the outermost gate of the eighth runners. 

The Brad Cox trainee has earned the most among his rivals Sunday, but is trying to rediscover his earlier form. Since finishing fifth in last year's Kentucky Derby (G1), he has one win in an allowance optional claimer and no better finish than fourth (2023 Belmont Stakes, G1) in his four graded efforts.