Tale of Verve Works for West Virginia Derby
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Tale of Verve, runner-up to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in the Xpressbet.com Preakness Stakes (gr. I), continued to progress toward the Aug. 1 West Virginia Derby (gr. II) with a five-furlong workout at Churchill Downs.
Tale of Verve and stablemate Commanding Curve, the 2014 Kentucky Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) runner-up, worked in tandem and breezed five-eighths of a mile in 1:00, co-second fastest among 22 at the distance. The pair had a very strong finish, according to trainer Dallas Stewart.
The $750,000 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort will be the first start for Charles Fipke's homebred Tale of Verve since the son of Tale of Ekati finished seventh in the Belmont Stakes presented by DraftKings (gr. I). Given a brief break following that race, Tale of Verve has been working steadily for his return.
Stewart said West Point Thoroughbreds' Commanding Curve, winner of an allowance at Churchill May 30 in his first start since finishing ninth in the 2014 Travers Stakes (gr. I), is being aimed at a stakes for older horses on the Aug. 1 West Virginia Derby card.
In New York, 2013 Belmont winner Palace Malice worked four furlongs in :49.78 on the main track at Saratoga Race Course. The move was the 19th fastest of 33 at the distance for Palace Malice, who finished second in the $100,000 Diablo Stakes at Belmont Park May 10 in his 2015 debut.