Study Guide: 2024 Virginia Derby
Sep 04, 2024
Deterministic wins at Saratoga (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
Saturday is the final day of 2024 racing at Colonial Downs. The feature event of the evening is the $500,000 Virginia Derby (G3) for three-year-olds racing 1 1/8 miles on turf.
This is the final year the Virginia Derby is taking place as a late-summer grass race. In 2025, the race will switch to dirt and move to mid-March to serve as a Kentucky Derby (G1) prep event that awards 50 Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification points to the winner.
Of course, that transition is six months away. In the meantime, let’s look forward to the final grass edition of the Virginia Derby and take a horse-by-horse look at the 2024 field:
Herchee
Herchee wins at Ellis Park (Photo by Coady Media)
Start(s): 2
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: 100% Racing Stable
Breeder: 100% Racing
Trainer: Helen Pitts
Jockey: Edgar Morales
Top Speed Rating: (89) when winning his debut at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $112,390
Sire: Twirling Candy
Dam: Gone Theatrical
Color: Bay
Herchee is undefeated in two starts, winning maiden and allowance races on the Kentucky circuit. The promising colt boasts tactical speed and a good finishing kick, so he’s eligible to challenge even while stepping up in class for the Virginia Derby.
Grand Mo the First
Grand Mo the First wins the Bears Den (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Lauren King)
Start(s): 8
Wins: 3
Place: 0
Show: 4
Owner: Granpollo Stable
Breeder: John D. Gunther
Trainer: Victor Barboza Jr.
Jockey: Paco Lopez
Top Speed Rating: (88) when winning the Bear’s Den S. at Gulfstream Park and when third in the Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $259,200
Sire: Uncle Mo
Dam: Lilies So Fair
Color: Dark bay/brown
After finishing 18th in the Kentucky Derby, Grand Mo the First switched to turf and bounced back to win the one-mile Bear’s Den by a neck. However, it’s worth noting the stretch-running colt received an excellent pace setup that day.
Deterministic
Deterministic won his stakes debut, the Gotham at Aqueduct (Photo by Coglianese Photography / credit to Chelsea Durand)
Start(s): 6
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 1
Owner: St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, C. Steven Duncker, and Vicarage Stables
Breeder: Hinkle Farm
Trainer: Christophe Clement
Jockey: Manny Franco
Top Speed Rating: (100) when finishing third in the Saratoga Derby (G1) at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $367,750
Sire: Liam’s Map
Dam: Giulio’s Jewel
Color: Dark bay/brown
Winner of the Gotham (G3) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, Deterministic exits a third-place finish (beaten only 1 1/2 lengths) in the Saratoga Derby (G1). Dropping in class for the Virginia Derby should make Deterministic a dangerous win threat.
Izzy d’Oro
Izzy d'Oro wins at Keeneland (Photo by Coady Media)
Start(s): 7
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: Blake Kelly, Joseph Gellenbeck, and Isidoro Russo
Breeder: Shawhan Place
Trainer: Blake Kelly
Jockey: David Cohen
Top Speed Rating: (91) when finishing fifth in the Saratoga Derby (G1) at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $139,225
Sire: Get Stormy
Dam: Cologne
Color: Chestnut
Izzy d’Oro has lots of early speed, but he faded to finish fifth in the Saratoga Derby last time out, coming home 7 1/2 lengths behind Deterministic. He’ll need improvement to turn the tables.
Frontline Warrior
Frontline Warrior wins at Keeneland (Photo by Coady Media)
Start(s): 7
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 1
Owner: Woodford Racing, Julianna Hawn-Holt, and W. S. Farish
Breeder: Julianna Hawn, Cross Triangle Farm
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
Jockey: Vincent Cheminaud
Top Speed Rating: (93) when finishing fifth in the Kent S. at Delaware Park.
Total Earnings: $117,512
Sire: War Front
Dam: Shamrock Rose
Color: Bay
Frontline Warrior has started four times at the stakes level but has yet to finish in the top three. On the bright side, he was beaten only two lengths in the Kent S. last time out, and trainer Shug McGaughey won the 2023 Virginia Derby with Integration.
In a Jam
In a Jam (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Kristina Taylor)
Start(s): 14
Wins: 3
Place: 3
Show: 4
Owner: Gary Barber
Breeder: Brereton C. Jones
Trainer: Mark Casse
Jockey: Mychel Sanchez
Top Speed Rating: (90) when finishing second in the English Channel S. at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $259,941
Sire: Preservationist
Dam: Yankee Union
Color: Gray/roan
In a Jam secured a graded stakes placing when third in the Secretariat (G2) last time out, but he’s finished behind Virginia Derby rival Fulmineo on a couple of occasions and needs a step forward to reverse those outcomes.
Desvio
Start(s): 7
Wins: 3
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: Stonelea Stable and Bonnie Rye Stable
Breeder: Eliza St. George and Lee Mauberret
Trainer: Madison Meyers
Jockey: Ben Curtis
Top Speed Rating: (95) when winning the Kent S. at Delaware Park.
Total Earnings: $168,680
Sire: Yoshida
Dam: Fitzrovia
Color: Gray/roan
Desvio is 2-for-2 running long on turf, most recently closing from midfield to take the 1 3/8-mile Kent S. at Delaware Park. He’s cutting back a quarter-mile in distance for the Virginia Derby but may have the talent to challenge regardless.
Massif
Massif wins at Colonial Downs (Photo by Coady Media)
Start(s): 11
Wins: 2
Place: 3
Show: 2
Owner: Respect the Valleys
Breeder: Respect the Valleys
Trainer: Brittany Russell
Jockey: Sheldon Russell
Top Speed Rating: (86) when finishing third in a Keeneland allowance.
Total Earnings: $171,875
Sire: Sky Mesa
Dam: Society’s Song
Color: Dark bay/brown
Massif has won twice over the Colonial Downs turf course, but he’s stepping up in class for the Virginia Derby and must improve upon his career-best 86 Brisnet Speed rating in order to factor.
Echo Lane
Echo Lane wins at Colonial Downs (Photo by Coady Media)
Start(s): 15
Wins: 4
Place: 2
Show: 3
Owner: Anthony Rogers
Breeder: Echo Lane Of Ocala
Trainer: Rohan Crichton
Jockey: Antonio Gallardo
Top Speed Rating: (85) twice, including when winning a Gulfstream Park starter optional claimer.
Total Earnings: $146,903
Sire: Treasure Beach
Dam: Misbehavin Miss
Color: Bay
Echo Lane narrowly prevailed in a $25,000 starter allowance over the Colonial Downs turf course last month, but his career-best 85 Brisnet Speed rating looks a little light against Saturday’s field.
Oscar’s World
Oscar's World wins at Ellis Park (Photo by Coady Media)
Start(s): 8
Wins: 2
Place: 2
Show: 1
Owner: Walmac Farm
Breeder: Gary Broad -- Walmac Farm
Trainer: Brian Lynch
Jockey: Martin Garcia
Top Speed Rating: (90) when finishing fourth in the KY Downs Preview Nashville Derby at Ellis Park.
Total Earnings: $137,854
Sire: Oscar Performance
Dam: Wendy’s World
Color: Bay
Oscar’s World has won maiden and allowance races on grass, but he missed the top three in his first two stakes starts and needs better to challenge in the Virginia Derby.
Fulmineo
Fulmineo wins The Boston at Colonial Downs (Photo by Coady Media / Credit to Maddy Becker)
Start(s): 11
Wins: 3
Place: 4
Show: 1
Owner: Starlight Racing and Mark B. Grier
Breeder: Country Life Farm and Starr of Quality
Trainer: Arnaud Delacour
Jockey: Victor Carrasco
Top Speed Rating: (90) when finishing second in the Columbia S. at Tampa Bay Downs.
Total Earnings: $272,275
Sire: Bolt d’Oro
Dam: Starr of Quality
Color: Bay
Although Fulmineo faded from a pace-tracking position to finish sixth in the Saratoga Derby, he’s won multiple stakes on turf and finished second in the Pilgrim (G2) last year. He won his debut on grass at Colonial Downs and is eligible to rebound for hot trainer Arnaud Delacour, who has won with 24% of his starters at Colonial this year. Don’t count Fulmineo out of the mix.
Zverev
Zverev wins at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Media)
Start(s): 8
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 1
Owner: Belladonna Racing, Peachtree Stable, Twin Brook Stables, and West Point Thoroughbreds
Breeder: Andrew Warren
Trainer: Cherie DeVaux
Jockey: Jorge Ruiz
Top Speed Rating: (90) when winning a Churchill Downs allowance.
Total Earnings: $135,030
Sire: Oscar Performance
Dam: Balance
Color: Bay
A troubled start and a slow early/fast late pace compromised Zverev when he finished sixth in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (G2) last time out. Two starts back, he employed pace-tracking tactics to win a 1 1/16-mile grass allowance at Churchill Downs by 2 1/2 lengths over future Saranac (G3) winner West Hollywood. A return to that level of form could place Zverev in the hunt for victory against the Virginia Derby field.
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