For the first time ever, Kentucky Derby qualifying points will be on the line at Colonial Downs when Saturday’s Grade 3 $500,000 Virginia Derby gets an extreme makeover. The former summer turf tilt has a new March home and will be contested on dirt for the first time. The 1-turn, 1-1/8 miles event shares a card that includes the Virginia Oaks.
Let’s Meet the Contenders for the Race 9 Virginia Derby:
#1-CALLING CARD: Off the board in both the Lecomte at Fair Grounds and the Gotham at Aqueduct just 2 weeks ago, this Mike Maker trainee has won 1 of 6 lifetime. $70,000 colt by Complexity added blinkers last time out to no avail. Jockey Luan Machado will be his seventh different rider in 7 starts.
#2-JOHN HANCOCK: Unbeaten winner of the Sam F. Davis Stakes may compete here or await the Louisiana Derby the following Saturday. Both victories have come at Tampa Bay Downs, including a half-length stakes score that was flattered last week when his runner-up Owen Almighty returned to win the Tampa Bay Derby. WinStar Farm home-bred by Constitution has wintered at Payson Park in Florida.
#3-AMERICAN PROMISE: D. Wayne Lukas-trained son of Triple Crown winner Justify took 6 tries to break his maiden at age 2. He’s finished off the board in the Southwest at Oaklawn as well as Fair Grounds’ Risen Star in his sophomore bids. Jockey Nik Juarez is named for the first time.
#4-OMAHA OMAHA: Laurel-based colt makes his third road trip of 2025 after a couple of solid effort at Aqueduct – second in the Jerome and third in the Withers. Trainer Mike Gorham now gets to blend those 2 races with a 1-turn, 1-1/8 miles journey. Sired by Florida Derby winner Audible, and, interestingly, damsire Kitten’s Joy was the 2004 Virginia Derby winner in its prior turf iteration.
#5-STUDLYDORIGHT: Trainer Jerry Robb brings another well-traveled, Laurel-based colt to the Virginia Derby. Only 2 of his 9 lifetime starts have come over his home track, running 6 times in New York and most recently fifth in the John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park. Won Saratoga’s Tremont and Aqueduct’s Nashua at age 2 in 1-turn affairs. Blinkers come off this son of Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist.
#6-GETAWAY CAR: Nose winner of the Sunland Park Derby plays the role on pinch hitter for the Bob Baffert stable on Saturday. The barn had planned on Gaming as its Virigina Derby representative, but that one reportedly came down with a minor illness. The 9-5 morning line favorite has taken on the best of the west with matchups against Champion 2-Year-Old Citizen Bull and recent San Felipe winner Journalism. Regular rider Juan Hernandez turns over the reins here to Irad Ortiz Jr., who last weekend won the Tampa Bay Derby on the trail.
#7-RAPTURE: Daylight maiden winner at Oaklawn on Jan. 25 in his second career start when traveling companion to Southwest Stakes favorite Patch Adams. Trainer Brad Cox not expected to run both John Hancock and Rapture in the Virginia Derby, one likely headed to next Saturday’s Louisiana Derby. $300,000 colt by Uncle Mo has Flavien Prat named to ride.
#8-AUTHENTIC GALLOP: Colt by Kentucky Derby winner Authentic exits a hard-fought Oaklawn allowance win. Fair Grounds-based runner is 2-for-2 at Oaklawn and 0-for-5 elsewhere and will be making his first stakes bid. Trainer Tom Amoss turns to Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano for the first time.
#9-RENDER JUDGMENT: Diverts from Fair Grounds’ Louisiana Derby series after a third-place effort in the Gun Runner and a disappointing eighth in the Risen Star. Trainer Kenny McPeek puts blinkers on for the first time for this son of Blame. Regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr. is aboard the colt, who is 1-for-5 lifetime.
#10-GEORGIA MAGIC: New York-based Ray Handal trainee was a well-beaten sixth in Aqueduct’s Jerome Stakes 2 starts back, his only prior stakes bid. Out of the money twice since a debut maiden win at the Big A in November. Colonial Downs veteran Sheldon Russell gets the mount.
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