Incredibolt finds redemption in Virginia Derby

Incredibolt stalked the pace, angled in for a clear run turning for home and kicked away to a four-length victory Saturday in the $500,000 Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs, earning 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points in the final 50-point race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Jaime Torres rode the winner for trainer Riley Mott and owner Pin Oak Stud in the 1 1/8-mile race for 10 3-year-olds. The race awarded points on a 50-25-15-10-5 basis to the top five finishers.

Lockstocknpharoah (5-1), the unbeaten American Pharoah colt making his first start on dirt, gained a narrow early lead under Edgar Morales through an opening quarter-mile in 23.49 seconds. Work (56-1) forced the pace along the inside, and Clocker Special (27-1) sat in striking position four wide.

Lockstocknpharoah continued to dictate through a half-mile in 47.15 seconds and three-quarters in 1:11.33 as Incredibolt (6-1) settled into a forward stalking position, tracking the leader.

"He's really matured and has a lot more confidence now. That showed today," Torres said. "I felt like I had plenty of horse around the half-mile, and I thought the horses in front were starting to slow down a little. I was just waiting for the right spot."

Torres asked Incredibolt to improve leaving the turn, and the Pin Oak Stud colt responded immediately, moving into second at the top of the stretch through a mile in 1:35.74. He angled in for a clear run and readily kicked away under strong hand urging, drawing off through the final furlong to finish in 1:47.76.

"It was very impressive," Mott said. "He sat right in the pocket behind a hot pace and was surrounded by horses most of the way. He took Jaime right up into a hole on the rail turning for home and then just blasted off and was pulling away at the end."

Mott expressed optimism about a Kentucky Derby bid.

"In his morning workouts and races, he's always galloped out really well. He's bred to get distance and he's shown us he can finish races going long, so we're optimistic and hopeful we can make it to the first Saturday in May," Mott said. "I'm happy for the horse and our staff, and especially happy for the Pin Oak team and the Bernhard family. We're missing a very important member today in Mr. Jim Bernhard, but I know he's looking down on us."

Lockstocknpharoah held well into the stretch but was worn down in the final furlong and faded to fifth.

Grittiness (36-1), trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Rajiv Maragh, reserved early from 10th at the start, commenced his bid on the turn and angled out four wide approaching the three-sixteenths pole. He rallied under a drive to grab second and collect 25 Kentucky Derby points.

"Based on that performance, you'd think he can keep improving and appreciate more distance," Maragh said. "He settled beautifully, got into a nice rhythm and finished well."

Confessional (8-1), with Julien Leparoux aboard for trainer Brad Cox, traveled three wide in mid-pack, improved on the turn and stayed on four wide through the stretch to finish a neck behind Grittiness in third, picking up 15 points.

"He had a very good trip," Leparoux said. "He sat just off the pace and was very comfortable. I was able to get him out and make a run, and he finished strongly. We just got beat today. I thought it was a very good race for him – better than his last start. I think the blinkers helped keep him focused."

Betting favorite Buetane (3-2), trained by Bob Baffert with Flavien Prat in the irons, raced forwardly along the inside but lost position on the turn in traffic. He lodged a three-wide stretch bid but was blocked by Ocelli at the sixteenth pole, angled toward the inside rail and kept on to finish fourth – a neck behind Confessional – for 10 points.

"He finished pretty well," Prat said. "From where I was, it just didn't work out the way we wanted. But he made a good run."

Lockstocknpharoah earned five points for fifth. Ocelli finished sixth after drifting out into Buetane's path approaching the sixteenth pole.

"Turning for home I tried to make my move, but in the stretch he started leaning inside and didn't stay straight," said Ocelli's rider Joseph Ramos. "He's still learning. He has the body and the stride – when he figures things out mentally, I think he could be a special horse."

Clocker Special, Work, Epic Desire and High Camp completed the order of finish.

Incredibolt paid $14.40, $7.40 and $5.60. Grittiness returned $24.60 and $10.40. Confessional paid $6.80 to show.

"This is a dream come true," Torres said.

The victory vaulted Incredibolt into a tie with Paladin atop the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 60 points. Grittiness moved to 36 points and 10th on the leaderboard. Buetane's total rose to 16.

A Bolt d'Oro colt out of Sapphire Spitfire, Incredibolt already proved himself at Churchill Downs as a juvenile, breaking his maiden under the twin spires before capturing the Street Sense Stakes (G3). He finished last in the Grade 3 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park in his 3-year-old debut Jan. 31 but answered emphatically Saturday. His record now stands at 5: 3-0-0 with career earnings of $498,681.