Mr. Money a millionaire after West Virginia Derby (G3) win

Mr. Money became Goldencents’ first millionaire with his eye-opening six-length victory in Saturday’s $500,000 West Virginia Derby (G3) at Mountaineer Park.

The 3-year-old colt has now chalked up four straight graded stakes wins beginning with the Pat Day Mile (G3) on Kentucky Derby day, then taking the Matt Winn S. (G3) and Indiana Derby (G3) before Saturday’s win. His earnings stand at $1,074,220 for Chester Thomas’ Allied Racing Stable and trainer Bret Calhoun.

The heavy favorite in the 1 1/8-mile contest, Mr. Money sat just behind pacesetter Plus Que Parfait for the first six furlongs before jockey Gabriel Saez guided his mount past the early leader and pulled away with powerful strides to win convincingly.

“(Calhoun) has done a tremendous job with him, and my job was to find the winner’s circle,” Saez said. “On the final turn, I asked him to get it done, and here we are. Good horses make you look good.”

Calhoun indicated that the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1) on Sept. 21 was a possible next start.

Bred by Spruce Lane Farm and out of Plenty O’Toole, Mr. Money hails from the family of Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Well Armed.

Goldencents is by far and away the nation’s leading Second-Crop sire, with $3.3 million in progeny earnings, more than $1 million than any other sophomore sire.

‘https://youtu.be/dZmDyKLZgok