Study Guide: 2025 Virginia Derby
Mar 09, 2025
John Hancock wins the Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs. (Photo by SV Photography)
Formerly a turf race held in summer, the $500,000 Virginia Derby (G3) has been reconfigured for its 2025 renewal. It’s now a 1 1/8-mile dirt race coming up this Saturday with 50-25-15-10-5 Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification points up for grabs by the top five finishers.
The Virginia Derby’s newfound status as a Kentucky Derby (G1) prep has attracted a strong group of horses to the entries. Let’s meet the 2025 field:
Calling Card
Calling Card wins at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)
Start(s): 6
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 1
Owner: Three Diamonds Farm
Breeder: Spruce Lane Farm, Manlius Stable, Built Wright Stables, et al.
Trainer: Mike Maker
Jockey: Luan Machado
Top Speed Rating: (93) when winning an Aqueduct maiden special weight against New York-breds.
Total Earnings: $77,600
Sire: Complexity
Dam: Graceful Rage
Color: Dark bay/brown
Impressive maiden winner Calling Card has struggled in his first two Road to the Kentucky Derby forays, finishing eighth in the Lecomte (G3) and seventh in the Gotham (G3). He’ll need improvement to take the Virginia Derby.
John Hancock
John Hancock wins the Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs. (Photo by SV Photo)
Start(s): 2
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: CHC and WinStar Farm
Breeder: WinStar Farm
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Mike Smith
Top Speed Rating: (97) when winning the Sam F. Davis S. at Tampa Bay Downs.
Total Earnings: $138,560
Sire: Constitution
Dam: Scribbling Sarah
Color: Chestnut
John Hancock is unbeaten in two starts, including a hard-fought triumph in the 1 1/16-mile Sam F. Davis S. on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. His 97 Brisnet Speed rating stamps him as a serious win threat while stepping into the graded stakes ranks for Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Brad Cox. Note that John Hancock is also under consideration for the March 22 Louisiana Derby (G2).
🖊️🌹 John Hancock signs, seals and delivers in the Sam F. Davis, picking up 20 @kentuckyderby points!
Flavien Prat was up for trainer @bradcoxracing!
🎥 TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/3pUHekNPsH
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) February 8, 2025
American Promise
American Promise wins at Oaklawn Park. (Photo by Coady Media)
Start(s): 8
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 1
Owner: BC Stables
Breeder: Candy Meadows
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Jockey: Nik Juarez
Top Speed Rating: (92) when winning an Oaklawn Park maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $144,874
Sire: Justify
Dam: Tapella
Color: Chestnut
American Promise couldn’t keep pace with runaway winner Magnitude when finishing fifth in the Risen Star (G2), but even in defeat he earned a respectable 91 Brisnet Speed rating. Another top-five finish is within reach.
Omaha Omaha
Start(s): 6
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 2
Owner: On Your Left Racing
Breeder: On Your Left Racing
Trainer: Michael Gorham
Jockey: Raul Mena
Top Speed Rating: (90) when finishing third in the Withers S. at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $127,300
Sire: Audible
Dam: England Swings
Color: Bay
Omaha Omaha has placed twice on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, finishing second in the Jerome S. and third in the Withers S. But the Virginia Derby is shaping up as a tougher race, and Omaha Omaha may need improvement to challenge for another top-three finish.
Studlydoright
Studlydoright wins the Nashua S. at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photo / Credit Chelsea Durand)
Start(s): 9
Wins: 3
Place: 2
Show: 0
Owner: Mens Grille Racing
Breeder: Glenangus Farm
Trainer: John Robb
Jockey: Xavier Perez
Top Speed Rating: (89) when winning the Tremont S. at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $292,205
Sire: Nyquist
Dam: Peach of a Gal
Color: Chestnut
Tremont S. and Nashua S. winner Studlydoright has recorded a trio of top-five finishes on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, but his career-best 89 Brisnet Speed rating looks a little light against the Virginia Derby field. He’ll likely need a step forward to challenge for better than fourth or fifth place. Note that he takes the blinkers off.
Getaway Car
Getaway Car winning the Best Pal (G3) at Del Mar (Photo by Benoit Photo)
Start(s): 7
Wins: 3
Place: 2
Show: 0
Owner: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan
Breeder: Blue Heaven Farm and Curlin Syndicate
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Top Speed Rating: (101) when finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar.
Total Earnings: $585,800
Sire: Curlin
Dam: Surrender Now
Color: Bay
Getaway Car has performed admirably in a series of tough Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifiers. He exits a tenacious victory in the Sunland Park Derby (G3) and previously placed second in the American Pharoah (G1) and Los Alamitos Futurity (G2). Getaway Car owns the highest Brisnet Speed ratings in the Virginia Derby field, so catching this frontrunning bay colt won’t be easy.
*cue Taylor Swift*
Getaway Car now has 36 points on the Road to the #KyDerby! 🚙💨 pic.twitter.com/2rwCryk6m8
— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) February 16, 2025
Rapture
Rapture wins at Oaklawn Park. (Photo by Coady Media)
Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: CHC and WinStar Farm
Breeder: Bill Mathis & Terry Mathis MST and Rochelle Bloodstock
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Top Speed Rating: (88) when winning an Oaklawn Park maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $74,000
Sire: Uncle Mo
Dam: Positively Royal
Color: Bay
Rapture was much the best in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Oaklawn Park last time out, tracking the pace before seizing command to win by 6 1/2 lengths. Eclipse Award-winning jockey Flavien Prat is named to ride Rapture rather than his more accomplished stablemate John Hancock (who might go to the Louisiana Derby instead).
Authentic Gallop
Authentic Gallop wins at Oaklawn. (Photo by Coady Media)
Start(s): 7
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 1
Owner: Greenwell Thoroughbreds
Breeder: Tall Oaks Farm
Trainer: Tom Amoss
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Top Speed Rating: (85) when winning an Oaklawn Park $150,000 allowance optional claimer.
Total Earnings: $173,658
Sire: Authentic
Dam: Galloping Ami
Color: Dark bay/brown
Authentic Gallop exits a win in a $150,000 allowance optional claimer racing 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn, but he’ll need to improve upon his career-best 85 Brisnet Speed rating to challenge against tougher foes on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Render Judgment
Render Judgment wins at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)
Start(s): 5
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 1
Owner: Baccari Racing Stable, Dream Walkin Farms, MJM Racing, and Rocket Ship Racing
Breeder: Green Lantern Stables
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
Top Speed Rating: (87) when winning a Churchill Downs maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $114,110
Sire: Blame
Dam: Barbara Gordon
Color: Bay
Render Judgment earned Kentucky Derby qualification points when fifth in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) and third in the Gun Runner S., but he finished behind American Promise when eighth in the Risen Star (G2) last month. He’ll need better to crack the top five in the Virginia Derby, and he adds blinkers in hopes that will help.
Georgia Magic
Georgia Magic wins at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)
Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: West Paces Racing, Pavilion Racing, Brown Road Racing, Twin Sports Racing, and Cypresshead Racing
Breeder: Robert Losey and Good Magic Syndicate
Trainer: Raymond Handal
Jockey: Sheldon Russell
Top Speed Rating: (75) when winning an Aqueduct maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $56,670
Sire: Good Magic
Dam: Nightlife Baby
Color: Dark bay/brown
Georgia Magic led all the way to win his debut, but he faltered in his first try on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, finishing a distant sixth in the Jerome. He’ll need a step forward to factor against Saturday’s field.
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