Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: American Promise

Mar 19, 2025 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

American Promise wins the Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs. (Photo by Coady Media / Credit to Lauren Johnson)

BC Stables’ American Promise picked up 50 points on the 2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby after posting a dynamic, 7 3/4-length victory in the $527,500 Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs on March 15. Trained by D. Wayke Lukas and guided home by Nik Juarez, the winner clocked 1 1/8 miles on the fast main strip in a course-record 1:46.41.

“I didn’t want to use my horse early, but I knew I had to get forward position with how the track has been playing,” Juarez said. “I’m just a guy who is lucky enough to be named to ride Mr. Lukas’ horses. To be heading to the (Kentucky) Derby for him is a dream come true. American Promise is doing so good. He proved himself out there today.”

Render Judgement, Omaha Omaha, Getaway Car, and Studlydoright rounded out the top five and earned qualifying points on a 25-15-10-5 structure, respectively.

American Promise debuted at Saratoga on July 27 and went unplaced in a 6 1/2-furlong dash on the dirt behind multiple Grade 1 winner Chancer McPatrick. The colt showed vast improvement in his fourth lifetime performance with the addition of blinkers when finishing second in a maiden special weight outing at Churchill Downs on October 27. The chestnut eventually graduated in his sixth showing on December 29 at Oaklawn Park.

He checked in seventh in the Southwest S. (G3) at Oaklawn to commence his three-year-old season, and he preceded his Virginia Derby triumph with a fifth-place result in the Risen Star S. (G2) at Fair Grounds. American Promise displays a lifetime line that reads 9-2-1-1, $444,874.

The winner was bred in the Bluegrass State by Candy Meadows, LLC, and brought the gavel down at $750,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He is the second graded-stakes winner produced from the winning Tapit mare Tapella, who is also responsible for 2022 Golden Rod S. (G2) heroine Hoosier Philly.

American Promise earned a lifetime-best 105 Brisnet Speed figure at Colonial Downs, and if he can repeat that number going forward, then the sophomore colt shouldn’t be taken lightly during the Triple Crown season.