Mr. Money in different league than West Virginia Derby rivals as he wins his fourth straight

Mr. Money is turning into a mint. He won his fourth race in a row, romping again, and ran his bankroll over $1 million with a six-length plunder of the Grade 3, $500,000 West Virginia Derby on Saturday at Mountaineer Park.

Mr. Money has become fiat currency the last several months facing second-tier 3-year-olds, but he is likely to test the division’s gold standard in his intended next start, the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby.

The colt clearly has earned a chance at the 3-year-old elite. Since a fifth-place finish in the Louisiana Derby he has won the Pat Day Mile by 5 1/4 lengths, the Matt Win Stakes by 6 1/2, the Indiana Derby by 2 1/2, and now the West Virginia Derby, his first start at a distance as far as 1 1/8 miles, in a laugher.

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The in-running markets might as well have closed on the West Virginia Derby at the quarter pole. Plus Que Parfait jumped to a surprise early lead, going a slow half-mile in 49.10, but perched just outside and behind him were Mr. Money, neck bowed and full of energy, and jockey Gabriel Saez. Mr. Money clearly had his mind on running from the start but acceded to Saez’s commands, only stretching to full stride when his rider gave him his head past the three-furlong marker. And that was it. Plus Que Parfait couldn’t come close to keeping up and no one came close to Mr. Money, who stopped the timer in 1:50.20 over a fast track, paying $3 to win.

Chess Chief rallied mildly for second, Plus Que Parfait held third.

Mr. Money, by Goldencents out of Plenty O’Toole, by Tiznow, campaigns for Allied Racing Stable LLC and won for the fifth time in 10 starts. He returns to trainer Bret Calhoun’s stable at Churchill Downs on Sunday morning and will be pointed to the Pennsylvania Derby.

“For the first time in his career he got a little cranked up in the paddock today,” Calhoun said. “He was a little sharp and had me concerned that he was not going to relax, but Gabe got him out of there, and he seemed to settle well behind a pretty slow pace. When I looked up and saw that pace and he had him pretty well in hand, I felt confident. He’s learned to be a professional racehorse.”

Calhoun a race earlier had won the Grade 3, $200,000 West Virginia Governor’s Cup with Silver Dust. Road trip, two runners, two winners of big pots.

“It was a pretty good trip to the mountain today for sure,” Calhoun said.