Tipsheet: 2026 Virginia Derby

A well-matched field of 10 sophomores will run 1 1/8 miles on the Colonial Downs main strip in Saturday’s $500,000 Virginia Derby. The 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series contest will reward the top five finishers with qualifying points on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale. 

Virginia Derby Picks

• #1 Buetane
• #6 Lockstocknpharoah
• #8 Confessional
• #5 High Camp

Virginia Derby Wagers

• $15 win and place #1 Buetane
• $5 exacta key box 1 with 5,6,8
• 50-cent trifecta 1,6 with 1,5,6,8 with all

Virginia Derby Contenders

#1 BUETANE: Baffert pupil was third in the Southwest (G3) in his route debut last time out and will make his third run off the layoff in this spot. The $1.15 million son of Tiz the Law has a fine draw on the rail with Flavien Prat coming in to ride. The expensive colt will always be close from the fence. 

#2 GRITTINESS: Repole color bearer is still a maiden and was last seen finishing a distant second in the Withers S. in his latest showing. The Curlin colt has shown improvement in his last two outings, but he will need a big move forward to earn his first win on this day. Rajiv Maragh will be in the silks. 

#3 EPIC DESIRE: Improving Uncle Mo colt is the second from the Pletcher shedrow and was last seen running fifth in the Sam F. Davis S. in his black-type debut. The Kentucky-bred bay has moved forward as of late and could be in the running in the lane with another step forward beneath Sheldon Russell. 

#4 WORK: $285,000 son of American Pharoah broke his maiden sprinting on the grass at Santa Anita last time and will go long in this one for Doug O’Neill. The New York-bred was dominated in both of his prior dirt runs to date and would be a big surprise in this field with Mychel Sanchez riding. 

#5 HIGH CAMP: Instagrand gelding is a nice prospect who has run well in both lifetime runs at Gulfstream Park in preparation for his stakes bow. The homebred closed well going seven-eighths in his latest performance and drilled a bullet five panels last weekend for trainer William Walden. John Velazquez will ride the win threat. 

#6 LOCKSTOCKNPHAROAH: Wildcard in the group is perfect from two lifetime showings to date on the synthetic at Turfway Park for conditioner Tom Drury. The American Pharoah chestnut was a dominant winner in his route debut last time while not being asked, and if the gelding handles the dirt, then he will be formidable with Edgar Morales coming in to ride. 

#7 INCREDIBOLT: Street Sense (G3) winner didn’t fire in his seasonal debut in the Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream Park, but will improve second off the layoff in this heat. The Riley Mott trainee has posted four nice morning drills in advance of his local bow and wouldn’t be a major surprise in this tilt with regular pilot Jaime Torres in the irons. 

#8 CONFESSIONAL: Essential Quality colt didn’t fire in the Sam F. Davis last time out with the blinkers off and will have the hood back on for this endeavor. The three-year-old colt ran two big ones prior to that subpar showing, and the $160,000 yearling could surely reverse form and be a contender in this tilt with Irad coming in to be in the silks. 

#9 OCELLI: Sam Davis sixth made a nice middle move before tiring in the lane at Tampa Bay most recently and has some exotics appeal on this occasion. The Connect colt is a maiden with a solid closing kick, and he will appreciate the move to nine furlongs on Saturday. Joseph Ramos will take the reins. 

#10 CLOCKER SPECIAL: Talented son of Not This Time was a smart maiden winner two back prior to finishing a close second in an allowance test at Oaklawn Park in his latest venture. The $200,000 Kentucky-bred is cut out to run long and could improve in his second route try as a top-three contender with Christian Torres coming in for the mount.