After finishing second in the 2025 West Virginia Derby (G3), jockey John Velazquez returned Aug. 9 to Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort with redemption on his mind.
In the irons aboard second choice Zihnal, Velazquez had the Quality Road gelding turn on the jets late to easily dispatch of the field for a 6 1/4-length triumph. The win in the $400,000 1 1/8-mile race capped a tidy 2-for-2 night for the Hall of Fame jockey.
After winning the West Virginia Governor's Stakes aboard Bracket Buster, Velazquez just needed to wait a little longer to avenge last year's defeat aboard McAfee thanks to deer getting on the track. It might not have mattered because Zihnal was at his best Sunday night.
Trainer Jonathan Thomas opted to equip the 3-year-old George Strawbridge homebred with blinkers for the first time.
Racing just off the leader Wayne's Law at the first turn, Zihnal shadowed the frontrunner who posted opening fractions of :23.97 and :48.24. But just a few strides past the half-mile point, Zihnal had enough of the pleasantries and pulled ahead and hit the three-quarter point of call in 1:12.96.
As Zihnal led the field into the home stretch, he increased his lead with every stride. He reached the mile in 1:39.20 with a 4-length lead and didn't let off the gas as he and Velazquez crossed the wire in 1:52.47.
Trendsetter was second and Bull by the Horns third. Zihnal paid $8.20 for his first graded win.
He improved to 2-0-0 from five starts and $286,241 in earnings.
Zihnal's sire, Quality Road, stood this year for $100,000 at Lane's End near Versailles, Ky.
