Johnny V Avenges West Virginia Derby Second with Zihnal
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Photo: Coady Media/Renee Torbit
Zihnal wins the West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer
After finishing second in the 2025 West Virginia Derby (G3), jockey John Velazquez returned Aug. 9 to Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort with redemption on his mind.
In the irons aboard second choice Zihnal , Velazquez had the Quality Road gelding turn on the jets late to easily dispatch of the field for a 6 1/4-length triumph. The win in the $400,000 1 1/8-mile race capped a tidy 2-for-2 night for the Hall of Fame jockey.
After winning the West Virginia Governor's Stakes aboard Bracket Buster , Velazquez just needed to wait a little longer to avenge last year's defeat aboard McAfee🔥 thanks to deer getting on the track. It might not have mattered because Zihnal was at his best Sunday night.
Trainer Jonathan Thomas opted to equip the 3-year-old George Strawbridge homebred with blinkers for the first time.
Racing just off the leader Wayne's Law at the first turn, Zihnal shadowed the frontrunner who posted opening fractions of :23.97 and :48.24. But just a few strides past the half-mile point, Zihnal had enough of the pleasantries and pulled ahead and hit the three-quarter point of call in 1:12.96.
As Zihnal led the field into the home stretch, he increased his lead with every stride. He reached the mile in 1:39.20 with a 4-length lead and didn't let off the gas as he and Velazquez crossed the wire in 1:52.47.
Trendsetter was second and Bull by the Horns third. Zihnal paid $8.20 for his first graded win.
He improved to 2-0-0 from five starts and $286,241 in earnings.
Zihnal's sire, Quality Road, stood this year for $100,000 at Lane's End near Versailles, Ky.