Trendsetter riding momentum into W.Va. Derby
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After Trendsetter won the Grade III Lexington Stakes at Keeneland in mid-April as a 32-1 outsider in a field of nine, trainer Ben Colebrook told the media of his plans for the 3-year-old Modernist gelding in simple terms.
"No Kentucky Derby. No Preakness. We didn't even nominate him," Colebrook said. "There are plenty of other races out there."
Colebrook made clear the Triple Crown races were off the table. And one of the races he had in mind was the $400,000 Grade III West Virginia Derby, which will be run Sunday, at Mountaineer Casino, Resort & Races. Trendsetter is one of eight entered in the 1 1/18-mile fixture.
"We think it's a good spot for him," Colebrook said. "J J Grey looks like the lone speed, so hopefully our horse can lay close. Trendsetter is a consistent horse that shows up every time."
Jockey Kazushi Kimura, who rides regularly in Southern California, is scheduled to make his fifth consecutive trip east to ride Trendsetter. He was aboard for the Lexington victory and the subsequent Peter Pan Stakes in New York and the Ohio Derby, both Grade III events in which Trendsetter finished third from off the pace.
"They kind of fit each other," Colebrook said. "The jockey almost has to ride Trendsetter the whole race, and Kazushi fits him well with that. He really likes the horse."
Trendsetter was purchased for $130,000 by Davant Latham at the 2025 Ocala Breeders Sales Co. April 2-year-olds in training auction. He began his racing career about three months later at Colonial Downs in Virginia, where he broke his maiden impressively in his debut and followed up with another off-the-pace score in the restricted Hickory Stakes. Both races were at 5 ½ furlongs.
In March of this year, Trendsetter went two turns for the first time in the Rushaway Stakes on the synthetic Tapeta surface at Turfway Park and came away with a third-place finish. Kimura rode him for the first time that afternoon.
"We always thought he would go long later on (in his career)," Colebrook said. "With 2-year-olds, there aren't many races for a horse to stretch out. And mentally, he was a little backward. But he has matured and we were hoping he would have a big 3-year-old campaign, which he has.
"These minor derbies with big purses are what we targeted. If he wins, we might look for something more."
Going into the West Virginia Derby, Trendsetter has a record of three wins, one second and three thirds for earnings of more than $495,000.
First post time for the Derby program is 5 p.m. Admission tickets are required for attendance and are available online at the Mountaineer website, at the Mountaineer gift shop, or at the gate the day of the event. Doors open at 2 p.m., and there will be live entertainment from 2:30-4 p.m.