Tipsheet: 2025 Virginia Derby

A total of nine three-year-olds will go 1 1/8 miles on the Colonial Downs main strip in Saturday’s $500,000 Virginia Derby. The 2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series contest will reward the top five finishers of the heat with qualifying points toward the Run for the Roses on a 50-25-15-10-5 structure. 

2025 Virginia Derby Picks

• #6 Getaway Car (9-5)
• #4 Omaha Omaha (10-1)
• #7 Rapture (5-1)

2025 Virginia Derby Wagers

• $30 win #6 Getaway Car
• $8 exacta 6 with 4,7
• $2 trifecta 6 with 4,7 with 4,7,8

2025 Virginia Derby Contenders

#1 CALLING CARD: Dark bay son of Complexity has gone unplaced in a pair of graded stakes in advance of this one and will need a big step forward to challenge the top ones in this spot. The three-year-old colt from the Mike Maker shedrow will make his second run since having blinkers added and will have Luan Machado in the irons. 

#3 AMERICAN PROMISE: D. Wayne Lukas charge has been outrun in a pair of deep graded races in succession and will need a move forward on Saturday. This Justify colt looked good in graduating at Oaklawn Park three back, and he also drilled a strong six panels leading up to this race, as well. Nik Juarez will guide the exotics contender. 

#4 OMAHA OMAHA: Mike Gorham trainee finished second in the Jerome S. and third in the Withers S. in his last two assignments. The Audible colt is quite consistent, and he did show late life at nine panels in his latest attempt, so he is a logical top-three contender with Raul Mena guiding the Virginia-bred. 

#5 STUDLYDORIGHT: Two-time stakes winner has failed to hit the board in a trio of black-type tilts in succession and would be a surprise against this group. The John Robb-trained son of Nyquist will race with blinkers off, and he could grab a share late if he responds to the equipment change beneath Xavier Perez. 

#6 GETAWAY CAR: Bob Baffert import was a smart winner of the Sunland Park Derby last time out and is clearly a major contender while making his local debut. The $700,000 son of Curlin has ample early speed and he showed a lot of heart after being passed in the lane in his latest venture, too. He will be the one to beat in the stretch. 

#7 RAPTURE: Uncle Mo colt dominated maiden foes at Oaklawn in his second career appearance and could be a nice one going forward. The Kentucky-bred has displayed both tactical speed and a good closing kick, and he will benefit from having Flavien Prat in the silks, as well. The bay will likely track the pace from the second flight in the early going. 

#8 AUTHENTIC GALLOP: Dark bay son of Authentic has improving form coming into his stakes bow and comes off a game win over allowance foes at Oaklawn Park most recently. This Tom Amoss trainee will need a lifetime-best showing to make noise in this contest, but the dark bay colt is not without a top-three chance with a step forward under Javier Castellano.

#9 RENDER JUDGEMENT: Kenny McPeek pupil will have blinkers on for the initial time in the heat and will be a late presence with a step in the right direction. The Blame colt exits a trio of difficult graded races as of late and continues to train forwardly leading up to his second run of the year. Brian Hernandez, Jr. will be in the controls. 

#10 GEORGIA MAGIC: Good Magic sophomore draws widest in the field and looks to be in a very tough spot. The dark bay has yet to run a race that could challenge this group, and I will let him beat me in this spot with Sheldon Russell in the stirrups.