First Look: Colonial Downs hosts loaded Virginia Derby

Seven weeks out from Louisville, the Kentucky Derby trail drops into an unlikely proving ground. Colonial Downs hosts a 50-point qualifier for the second straight year, and this weekend's Virginia Derby attracted a field loaded with 3-year-olds looking for answers after rough recent starts.

Bob Baffert ships Buetane after the Tiz the Law colt ran third in the Grade 3 Southwest at Oaklawn. Brad Cox adds blinkers to Confessional after a puzzling fade in the Sam F. Davis at Tampa. Todd Pletcher fires a two-horse shot with Withers runner-up Grittiness and Epic Desire. Riley Mott's Incredibolt, a Street Sense (G3) winner at Churchill Downs, needs a bounce-back after checking in sixth in the Holy Bull (G3).

The Virginia Derby headlines nine stakes this weekend, with the Virginia Oaks also carrying 50 Kentucky Oaks (G1) qualifying points and the Whitmore (G3) at Oaklawn and Grade 3 turf races at Santa Anita rounding out the action for horseplayers looking to cash in from coast to coast.

Saturday

Virginia Derby, Colonial Downs, 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-olds, 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points

Buetane earned a career-best 92 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form, with a second in the San Vicente (G2) at Santa Anita on Jan. 10. The Bob Baffert-trained son of Tiz the Law broke his maiden by 3 1/2 lengths at Del Mar and ran second in the Hopeful (G1) at Saratoga before settling for third in the Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn on Feb. 6. Incredibolt rallied to win the Street Sense Stakes (G3) at Churchill by 1 3/4 lengths on Oct. 26 for trainer Riley Mott but faded to sixth in the Holy Bull (G3) on Jan. 31. Work and High Camp are the only entrants not nominated to the Triple Crown.

Virginia Oaks, Colonial Downs, 1 1/16 miles, fillies, 3-year-olds. 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points

Hit Parade rattled off three consecutive victories last fall, breaking her maiden at Churchill Downs on Sept. 20 before capturing an allowance and the Untapable at Fair Grounds. She posted an 81 Beyer Speed Figure, in each of her final two wins. The Brad Cox-trained filly faded to fifth, beaten 6 3/4 lengths, in the Martha Washington at Oaklawn on Feb. 6.

Royal New Kent, Colonial Downs, 1 mile, 4-year-olds and up

A Preakness 2025 starter who finished seventh at Pimlico, Pay Billy earned his way to the Grade 1 classic by winning the Federico Tesio at Laurel on April 19 by 1 1/2 lengths. Trained by Michael Gorham, the 4-year-old Improbable colt won his most recent start at Laurel on Feb. 27, rallying from third to take an allowance by two lengths with an 86 Beyer Speed Figure.

Any Limit, Gulfstream Park, 6 furlongs, fillies, 3-year-olds

Five wins from her first six starts made Mythical a standout among Florida-bred 3-year-old fillies, capped by a 12 3/4-length romp in the Susan's Girl and a 2 3/4-length score in the My Dear Girl. She also captured the Adirondack (G3) at Saratoga but faded to fifth in both the Spinaway (G1) in August and the Forward Gal (G3) on Jan. 31.

Whitmore (G3), Oaklawn Park, 6 furlongs, 4-year-olds and up

Tejano Twist returns for a fourth consecutive Whitmore after winning the 2023 edition by 1 1/2 lengths, finishing a nose short of Jaxon Traveler in 2024 and running third behind Booth last year. The Chris Hartman-trained, 7-year-old gelding earned a 99 Beyer Speed Figure when runner-up in the King Cotton on Feb. 8 and rallied from last to win an allowance on March 1 at Oaklawn.

San Simeon (G3), Santa Anita, 6 1/2 furlongs, turf, 4-year-olds and up

Sorrento Sky closed to finish second behind Yellow Card in the Clocker's Corner on Feb. 8 at Santa Anita. The 5-year-old placed third in last year's San Simeon (G3) and ended up third in the Eddie D (G2) on Sept. 27 at Santa Anita.

Sunday

Santa Ana (G3), Santa Anita, 1 1/4 miles, turf, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

A four-time stakes winner over her last six starts, Mrs. Astor rallied between horses to capture the Astra on Jan. 19 at Santa Anita for trainer Jonathan Thomas. The mare also surged to take the Red Carpet (G3) at Del Mar on Nov. 23 and finished second in this race last year, beaten 2 1/2 lengths by Lady Claypoole.