Cherokee Artist looks to shed bridesmaid label in West Virginia

Fabulous Strike will make his second start of the season at Mountaineer Park on Saturday  (Deborah Kral/Horsephotos.com)

Z Fortune established himself as a Kentucky Derby (G1) contender with a

victory in the Lecomte S. (G3) and runner-up finishes in the Arkansas Derby (G2)

and Risen Star S. (G2), but the Steve Asmussen runner was no factor finishing

10th on Derby Day. Third in the Ohio Derby next out, the gray colt will attempt

to rebound from a seventh as the 3-5 favorite in the Iowa Derby. Shaun

Bridgmohan will ride.

Recapturetheglory earned a Kentucky Derby berth with a four-length score in

the Illinois Derby (G2), and the Louie Roussel pupil did not disgrace himself

with a fifth-place effort under the Twin Spires. The bay colt didn't display his

customary speed last time, checking in fourth in the Northern Dancer S. (G3),

and is eligible to return to front-running tactics with new rider James Graham

on Saturday. My Pal Charlie is still searching for his first stakes win, but he

gave a favorable account of himself when finishing second behind Pyro (Pulpit)

in the Northern Dancer and Louisiana Derby (G2). Jamie Theriot will guide the Al

Stall trainee.

On the undercard, FABULOUS STRIKE (Smart Strike) highlights a field of eight

sprinters in the $110,000 Harvey Arneault Memorial S. A smashing 5 3/4-length

winner of the prestigious Vosburgh S. (G1) last September, the Todd

Beattie-trained gelding missed the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) due to a physical

setback. He returned to the races with a sharp score in the Vincent A.

Moscarelli Memorial S. at Delaware Park last time out, and the five-year-old

will face seven rivals in Saturday's six-furlong test. Dana Whitney, who was

replaced last year by Ramon Dominguez and Robby Albarado, will be reunited with

the talented sprinter.

The $125,000 West Virginia Governor's S. has attracted a competitive field of

10, including Grade 2-winning MAGNA GRADUATE (Honor Grades), an earner of more

than $2.3 million who will make his first start under the direction of Asmussen.

The conditioner is also responsible for Grade 2 winner ZANJERO (Cherokee Run), who

has compiled more than $1.3 million in earnings but will be attempting to

improve upon a fourth as the 6-5 choice in the Prairie Meadows Cornhusker H.

(G2). Magna Graduate and Zanjero will each be looking for their first victory of

the season. Canadian shipper ALEZZANDRO (High Yield) and multiple stakes victor

BETTER THAN BONDS (Sweetsouthernsaint) are both in the line-up.