The Virginia Derby was formerly a late-summer, headliner turf race at Colonial Downs.
This year the Virginia Derby has morphed into a qualifying race for the May 3rd Kentucky Derby.
The race is a one-turn, 1 1/8-mile contest with a purse of $500,000 dollars, and awards qualifying points on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale to the top five finishers.
Here is a brief look at the runners:
1. CALLING CARD [ML 15-1] Jockey: Luan Machado. Trainer: Mike Maker. Comes off a meh outing in the Gotham Stakes and will need to show more here in order to be a contender.
2. JOHN HANCOCK [ML 3-1] Jockey: Mike Smith. Trainer: Brad Cox. Undefeated in two starts. Won the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs last out, beating recent Tampa Bay Derby Winner OWEN ALMIGHTY a major player in this field.
3. AMERICAN PROMISE [ML 12-1] Jockey: Nik Juarez. Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas. He was a non-factor in both the Risen Star and Southwest Stakes. Perhaps a bit of an easier field, might be a threat… with his best effort.
4. OMAHA OMAHA [ML 10-1] Jockey: Raul Mena. Trainer: Michael Gorham. Got away slowly in the Withers Stakes and then closed ground gamely to finish 3rd at this distance. Could play a role in the stretch run.
5. STUDLYDORIGHT [ML 15-1] Jockey: Xavier Perez. Trainer: John Robb. Has not finished better than 4th place since Winning the Nashua Stakes in November. Appears to be heading in the wrong direction.
6. GETAWAY CAR [ML 9-5] Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. Trainer: Bob Baffert. Coming off a gutty Win in the Sunland Derby, he’ll probably be the pacesetter under an aggressive ride and figures to be right there at the end.
7. RAPTURE [ML 5-1] Jockey: Flavien Prat. Trainer: Brad Cox. Last out was an impressive Maiden Win at Oaklawn Park. If he moves forward off that try, he will be a force to be reckoned with.
8. AUTHENTIC GALLOP [ML 10-1] Jockey: Javier Castellano. Trainer: Tom Amoss. Makes his Stakes debut in his eighth career start. Won an Allowance-optional claiming race at Oaklawn Park last time out. A lot to ask here, certainly a test in class.
9. RENDER JUDGEMENT [ML 12-1] Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr. Trainer: Ken McPeek. Adds blinkers after a weak showing in the Risen Star. Looks to be a notch below the top contenders.
10. GEORGIA MAGIC [ML 30-1] Jockey: Sheldon Russell. Trainer: Raymond Handal. Not remotely impressive in his only Stakes appearance and drawing the outside post doesn’t help his chances.
The Virginia Derby is slated as race nine on a card of ten with a scheduled Post Time of 5:10.
Best of luck however you play it.
