One of the “flyover state Derbies” for 3-year-olds held during the summer months, Sunday’s Grade 3 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Race Track and Casino has been drawing big-league trainers and their prospects over the past 20 years or so ever since casino money inflated the race’s purse into the $500,000 range where it currently stands. This year’s renewal drew a competitive nine-horse field, several of which didn’t do much during the Triple Crown season but may be starting to reach their potential on the track.

1. Baxley (20-1 morning line odds): Gelding stretches out to two turns after four starts at four different tracks, with his two wins coming in gate-to-wire fashion. Those were in five- and six-furlong sprints and it’s difficult to see him keeping up with Dragoon Guard for the entire 1 1/8-mile trip.

JOCKEY: Erik Barbaran; TRAINER: Larry Rivelli

2. Dimatic (6-1): Winchell Thoroughbreds homebred has been squaring off against some of the top 3-year-olds in the Midwest and his form is getting better. Posted Equibase Speed Figures in the 90s in his past three starts, including a last-out fourth in the Iowa Derby won by Henro. Should be closing late and is a logical trifecta filler in this spot.

JOCKEY: Cristian Torres; TRAINER: Steve Asmussen

3. Dragoon Guard (9-5): A clear standout based on speed figures, this Juddmonte homebred comes in off of two front-running wins with the most recent being a stellar score in his two-turn debut in the 1 1/16-mile Indiana Derby. He is bred to go longer and in case it rains, he’s already romped on an off track two starts ago in a Churchill Downs allowance. A big threat to lead this field from start to finish.

JOCKEY: Florent Geroux; TRAINER: Brad Cox

4. Next Level (15-1): Continues to show up in graded stakes with minimal success, although he did rally mildly to nab third two starts ago behind winner Society Man in the Matt Winn Stakes. Following that, he was a no-threat seventh in the Iowa Derby. His best effort could spice up the trifecta or superfecta, but he appears to be a cut below several of these.

JOCKEY: Jareth Loveberry; TRAINER: Keith Desormeaux

5. Mugatu (20-1): Another late grinder that has tried to make an impact in big-time races and failed so far. He was fifth in the Iowa Derby last out and showed little. Most of his better races have come on an all-weather track, and as such he’s in a tough spot here.

JOCKEY: Ronald Allen Jr.; TRAINER: Jeff Engler

Society Man (Coady Media)

6. Agate Road (5-1): His connections have tried him on both turf and dirt and despite a runner-up finish in a Kentucky Derby prep at Tampa Bay Downs back in February, he looks better suited to the grass. Still, he’s shown enough stamina in some of his races to merit consideration in exacta and trifecta bets.

JOCKEY: Trevor McCarthy: TRAINER: Todd Pletcher

7. McQueen (30-1): Comes in off of a blowout maiden win in a 1 1/16-mile maiden race at Hawthorne that was washed off the turf. That outing followed a layoff of nearly six months when he was transferred from Todd Pletcher’s barn to his current trainer. His speed figures don’t match up with morning-line favorite Dragoon Guard, but this Gun Runner colt could keep that one company for a while on the front end and outrun his odds.

JOCKEY: Charle Oliveros; TRAINER: Manny Perez

8. Society Man (9-2): Jumped on the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve trail with a runner-up finish in the Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by Resorts World Casino at odds of 106.75-1. Ran 16^th in the Derby but then showed the Wood effort was no fluke with a sharp win in the Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill. This gelding will need to sit closer to the projected pace set by Dragoon Guard to have a chance, but if he can manage that trip he can post the mild upset.

JOCKEY: Corey Lanerie; TRAINER: Danny Gargan

9. Henro (3-1): Stretched out to two turns successfully in the Iowa Derby in early July to outfinish heavily favored Brad Cox trainee Just a Touch and win by a head. Squares off against another blue-blood Cox runner in this race (Dragoon Guard), but he’s been improving in form dating back to spring at Oaklawn Park. He could be in the mix if he can continue his upward trend. 

JOCKEY: Rafael Bejarano; TRAINER: Chris Hartman

THE PICK: Society Man

LIVE LONGSHOT: McQueen

SUPERFECTA: 8-3-9-2