Red Route One passes million-dollar mark with West Virginia Derby victory
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Red Route One used his patented closing kick Sunday night to become both a millionaire and give trainer Steve Asmussen his sixth win in the West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Park. Red Route One captured the Grade 3, $500,000 race by three lengths over West Coast Cowboy, while it was another head back in third to One in Vermillion.
The West Virginia Derby shared a card with the Grade 3, $200,000 West Virginia Governor’s Stakes won by Duke of Love. The races were run on a track upgraded to “good” after a rainstorm left the surface sloppy for the start of the card. All of the turf races were moved to the main track.
Red Route One ($9.80) had two horses beat early in the West Virginia Derby as One in Vermillion jumped out to the lead and took the field through fractions of 23.30 seconds for the opening quarter and 47.65 before being joined by West Coast Cowboy through six furlongs in 1:11.50.
Red Route One began picking off horses down the backside and on the final turn and took aim at dueling leaders One in Vermillion and West Coast Cowboy in the stretch, running past those leaders and going on to cover the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.49.
Cristian Torres was aboard Red Route One for Winchell Thoroughbreds.
Red Route One used the same closing kick to capture the Bath House Row Stakes in May at Oaklawn Park. He also was a fast-closing second in both the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes and Grade 2 Rebel – races run on wet tracks at Oaklawn. Red Route One would go on to run in two legs of the Triple Crown, finishing fourth in the Preakness and eighth in the Belmont Stakes.
Red Route One became Asmussen’s latest West Virginia Derby winner behind Tapiture (2014); Mucho Mucho (2012); Soul Warrior (2009); Zanjero (2007); and Real Dandy (2005).
Red Route One, by Gun Runner, earned $297,000 for his victory Sunday to lift his career record to 3 for 12 for earnings of $1,045,025.
Raise Cain finished fourth as the favorite Sunday. The West Virginia Derby was scratched down to a field of 10 with the defections of leading contender Tapit’s Conquest, Dreaming of Kona, My Man Biggie and one of the also-eligibles, Russian Hammer.
Governor’s Stakes
Duke of Love ($19) fought for a three-quarter-length win over Surly Furious in the Grade 3, $200,000 West Virginia Governor’s Stakes. It was another 5 1/4 lengths back in third to favorite O’Conner.
Duke of Love settled just off the pace set by Altmeister, who led through a half-mile in 47 seconds. Duke of Love moved to the fore through six furlongs in 1:10.90 as Surly Furious went with him, and the pair battled through the lane with Duke of Love covering the 1 1/16 miles on a track upgraded to good in 1:42.39.
Luis Contreras was aboard for My RaceHorse and trainer Josie Carroll. The son of Cupid, who is a past winner of the Prince of Wales, has now won 4 of 12 starts for earnings of $443,817.
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