NEW CUMBERLAND, W.Va. — East Avenue, a two-time graded-stakes winner, headlines a field of eight 3-year-olds entered in the 55th running of the $400,000 Grade III West Virginia Derby on Sunday at Mountaineer Casino, Resort & Races.

The 1 1/8-mile Derby will highlight an evening card that includes the $200,000 West Virginia Governor’s Stakes. Post time for the first race is 5 p.m.

East Avenue, trained by Brendan Walsh for owner and breeder Godolphin, opened his 2024 campaign with an easy win before capturing the Grade I Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland by 5 1/4 lengths. He finished a narrow second in the Grade I Blue Grass Stakes and after running eighth in the Kentucky Derby, returned to win the Grade III Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs. Luis Saez will ride from post 2.

Chunk of Gold, owned by Terry Stephens and trained by Ethan West, has just one win in six starts but has finished second in three graded stakes this year: the Grade II Risen Star, Grade II Louisiana Derby and Grade III Ohio Derby. He was also just behind East Avenue in the Kentucky Derby. Jareth Loveberry retains the mount from post 4.

“Training-wise he has been doing really good,” West said. “We’re not trying to campaign him super-hard. There are a lot of good 3-year-olds, and we’re trying to avoid the heavy-hitters on the East Coast. We have no complaints, no concerns right now. I’m confident he’s going into the race where he needs to be.”

McAfee, third in the Ohio Derby and runner-up in the Grade III Peter Pan Stakes, is trained by Richard Dutrow Jr. for a partnership of Black Type Thoroughbreds, Swinbank Stables, Judy Hicks and Scott Rice. Emmanuel Esquivel rides from post 5.

Brotha Keny, trained by William Morey for Lance and Steve Kinross, closed from nearly nine lengths back to finish third in the Grade III Indiana Derby. A two-time dirt winner since switching from synthetic at Turfway, he’ll break from post 6 under Joseph Ramos.

Governor’s Stakes

The $200,000 West Virginia Governor’s Stakes at 1 1/16 miles features the return of last year’s winner, Hit Show, trained by Brad Cox for Gary and Mary West. The 5-year-old son of Candy Ride followed up last year’s Mountaineer win with victories in the Grade II Lukas Classic, Grade II Fayette Stakes, Grade III Louisiana Stakes, and most notably, the Grade I Dubai World Cup.

Derby notes

Admission tickets for Aug. 3 are available online at the Mountaineer website, at the track’s gift shop or at the gate on race day. Food trucks will open at 2 p.m. and live entertainment will take place from 2:30 to 4 p.m.

$400,000 West Virginia Derby

Post positions, horses, jockeys, trainers

1. Gone Boy — Luis Negron, Juan Vazquez

2. East Avenue — Luis Saez, Brendan Walsh

3. Brereton’s Baytown — Marshall Mendez, Paul McEntee

4. Chunk of Gold — Jareth Loveberry, Ethan West

5. McAfee — Emmanuel Esquivel, Richard Dutrow Jr.

6. Brotha Keny — Joseph Ramos, William Morey

7. Extradition — Rocco Bowen, Jason DaCosta

8. Just a Fair Shake — J.G. Torrealba, Daniel McKenzie