Colonial Downs: World Beater leads Old Dominion Derby

World Beater, one of the nation’s top 3-year-old turf routers, takes on eight sophomore males going 1 1/8 miles Saturday in the Grade 3, $500,000 Old Dominion Derby at Colonial Downs.

In his last start World Beater offered a determined closing run, reeling in front-runner Juwelier and holding off a late bid by Test Score to win the Saratoga Derby Invitational (G1). That earned trainer Riley Mott his first graded stakes victory.

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“He’s done really well since,” Mott said. “He’s had two works and hasn’t missed a beat. The timing of the Old Dominion Derby is perfect, five weeks after his last race. Colonial has a really nice turf course, one we like for him, and it’s a good purse at $500,000, so hopefully we can keep the horse on a good roll.”

With a runner-up finish in the Belmont Derby (G1) and a win in the Audubon at Churchill Downs in May, World Beater has earned $826,414 from eight starts, hitting the board in all six of his turf races.

“He’s not the electrifying type who goes from last to first in a blink,” Mott said. “He’s more of a grinder, a steady-moving horse, but he always shows up. He tries. He can be outside horses, between horses, you know he’s going to be there for you, so he’s very genuine.”

After a pair of unsuccessful dirt starts as a 2-year-old, World Beater launched his sophomore turf campaign with a third-place finish against a strong maiden field at Gulfstream. He followed that with a runner-up finish at Keeneland, proving unflappable through tight quarters before producing a spirited rally to finish ahead of three next-out winners.

“You can’t really train that into them,” Mott said. “We can get them fit, but talent and grit, you know they either have it, or they don’t. I think his first couple of turf races were very good.”

Owned by Pin Oak Stud, World Beater broke his maiden on the Kentucky Oaks undercard, again showing composure in traffic before splitting horses and quickening to the wire.

“He just kind of goes out there and does his job,” Mott said. “He’s been a fun one to have in the barn. I guess when you’re starting out your career, you’re always hoping for that one horse to maybe take you from here to there. Hopefully, he’s that one and continues to be. He’ll always have a special place in our stable.”

Based in Kentucky, Mott plans to attend Old Dominion Derby day at Colonial Downs.

“We’re excited,” Mott said. “I’ve got a lot of ties to Colonial. My wife’s whole side of the family is from around that area, so we’ll have a big crowd there. Debbie Easter, president of the Virginia Equine Alliance, was one of my first supporters when I went out on my own, so I’m excited to take the horse there.”

Mott took out his trainer’s license in 2022 after eight years as an assistant to his father, Hall of Famer Bill Mott. Although World Beater is his first graded-stakes winner, Mott brings plenty of experience at this level.

“You don’t try to do anything too fancy,” Mott said. “You just keep them happy and healthy. You train them like any other horse. Make logical decisions, and don’t get too cute.”

Jaime Torres, World Beater’s regular rider who missed the Saratoga Derby due to a travel issue, is named to ride the 9-5 morning-line favorite from post 6 in the Old Dominion Derby.

The Old Dominion Derby is slated as the finale of Saturday’s 10 races, nine on the turf including six stakes. The first post is at noon EDT. The Old Dominion Derby, which used to be the Virginia Derby before that name was transferred to a March prep for the Kentucky Derby, is scheduled for 4:45 p.m.