Baffert’s Prayer answered

Special to The Vindicator

CHESTER, W.Va.

It’s now a certainty that Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has the Grade 2, $750,000 West Virginia Derby figured out. His 6-5 favorite Prayer for Relief eliminated any doubts on Saturday with his driving, half-length victory in the 42nd edition of the race at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort.

It was the 58-year-old Baffert’s second consecutive West Virginia Derby victory, and that path that Prayer for Relief took to the Mountaineer winner’s circle was very similar to the one traversed by Concord Point in 2010.

Last year, Concord Point won the Grade 3 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows, then shipped to Mountaineer and as the 4-5 wagering choice registered a one-length West Virginia Derby score.

Concord Point’s victory at the northern panhandle track, however, was pretty much a front-running effort. Prayer for Relief is more of a stalker, and under jockey Rafael Bejarano, he stayed in third position on the rail through modest opening fractions of :24.18 for the quarter, :48.13 for the half and 1:12.45 for three-quarters.

Prayer for Relief’s final time for the 1 1/8-mile distance was 1:50.68, the fastest for a West Virginia Derby since 2006.

Prayer Relief returned $4.60, $3 and $2.60 across the board. Rush Now returned $5.60 to place and $3.80 to show. He finished 2 Ω lengths clear of Sherriff Cogburn, who returned $3.60 to show.

Completing the order were Infrattini, Awesome Bet, Little Drama, Dreamy Kid, Skipping the Score and Loranger Native. Fred High was scratched.