Study Guide: 2025 Old Dominion Derby

Sep 03, 2025 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

World Beater winning the Saratoga Derby (G1) at Saratoga (Photo by Coglianese Photos/Chelsea Durand)

A nine-horse field led by Grade 1 winner World Beater has turned out to contest Saturday’s $500,000 Old Dominion Derby (G3) at Colonial Downs.

Recent winners of the 1 1/8-mile turf test for three-year-olds include Deterministic and Integration, two of the leading grass runners in North America this year.

Let’s meet the horses entered in the 2025 Old Dominion Derby:

Native Runner

Native Runner wins at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 10
Wins: 3
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: Calumet Farm
Breeder: Siena Farms
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Jorge Ruiz

Top Speed Rating: (91) when winning a $50,000 starter optional claimer at Fair Grounds.
Total Earnings: $174,740

Sire: Laoban
Dam: Intermittent
Color: Bay

Native Runner has shown flashes of talent on turf, most notably running second by half a length in the American Derby at Churchill Downs. But the Old Dominion Derby is his toughest turf test to date, and he may need a step forward to vie for victory.

Mesero

Messero wins at Ellis Park (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 7
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: CJ Thoroughbreds and Delia Nash
Breeder: Delia Nash
Trainer: Dale Romans
Jockey: Mychel Sanchez

Top Speed Rating: (85) when winning an allowance at Keeneland.
Total Earnings: $159,742

Sire: Not This Time
Dam: Lemon Liqueur
Color: Gray/roan

Mesero unleashed a strong homestretch rally to win a Keeneland allowance during the spring, but he’s finished eighth and seventh in two subsequent starts against ungraded stakes competition, so stepping into the Grade 3 ranks for the Old Dominion Derby could be tricky.

Just a Fair Shake

Start(s): 8
Wins: 2
Place: 2
Show: 1

Owner: LaShawna Lynch
Breeder: Brookstone Farm, Lee Mauberret, and James Blazek
Trainer: Daniel McKenzie
Jockey: Xavier Perez

Top Speed Rating: (93) when finishing second in the Federico Tesio S. at Laurel Park.
Total Earnings: $171,600

Sire: Laoban
Dam: Ladymidtown
Color: Bay

Just a Fair Shake has competed exclusively on dirt. He’s recorded top-four finishes in five stakes, including the West Virginia Derby (G3), but he isn’t guaranteed to reproduce his best form while switching to turf.

Soleil Volant

Start(s): 10
Wins: 1
Place: 2
Show: 2

Owner: Jacques Dupuis Jr., Luke Bourque, and Bobby Sutton
Breeder: G. Watts Humphrey Jr.
Trainer: Graham Motion
Jockey: Kendrick Carmouche

Top Speed Rating: (94) when finishing second in the James W. Murphy S. at Pimlico.
Total Earnings: $73,976

Sire: Karakontie
Dam: Valentine Wish
Color: Chestnut

Soleil Volant has placed twice at the stakes level on turf, running second in the James W. Murphy S. and third in the Tale of the Cat S. But he’s finished behind Old Dominion Derby rival Outrunner on a couple of recent occasions and will need improvement to turn the tables.

Iron Hand

Start(s): 8
Wins: 4
Place: 0
Show: 4

Owner: Baoma Corp
Breeder: Baoma Corp
Trainer: Jose D’Angelo
Jockey: Edwin Gonzalez

Top Speed Rating: (89) when winning an allowance at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $152,920

Sire: Valiant Minister
Dam: Bev’s Humor
Color: Gray/roan

After winning four straight races over the synthetic Tapeta track at Gulfstream Park, Iron Hand switched to turf for the Bear’s Den S. and ran third by one length. It was a respectable grass debut, but the 88 Brisnet Speed rating Iron Hand earned looks a bit light against the Old Dominion Derby field.

World Beater

World Beater wins the Saratoga Derby at Saratoga. (Photo by Coglianese Photo / Credit to Susie Raisher)

Start(s): 8
Wins: 3
Place: 2
Show: 1

Owner: Pin Oak Stud
Breeder: Dr. John A. Chandler
Trainer: Riley Mott
Jockey: Jaime Torres

Top Speed Rating: (103) when winning the Saratoga Derby (G1) at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $826,414

Sire: Oscar Performance
Dam: Dabinett
Color: Chestnut

World Beater is hands-down the horse to beat in the Old Dominion Derby. He’s excelled at the highest level, winning the Saratoga Derby (G1) and finishing second in the Belmont Derby (G1) while earning Brisnet Speed ratings of 103 and 101. None of the other Old Dominion Derby entrants have earned a rating higher than 95, so a typical performance from World Beater should land the chestnut colt in the Colonial Downs winner’s circle.

World Beater upsets in the G1 Saratoga Derby Invitational at 11/1 to give trainer @Riley_Mott his first G1 win! 🏆🤩@juniorandkellya picked up the mount. pic.twitter.com/vRNItDHuyz

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) August 2, 2025

Thirteen Colonies

Thirteen Colonies wins at Keeneland. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 5
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: Lindy Farms
Breeder: Brandywine Farm (Jim and Pam Robinson)
Trainer: Philip Antonacci
Jockey: Axel Concepcion

Top Speed Rating: (93) when finishing second in a $100,000 allowance optional claimer at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $101,135

Sire: Hit It a Bomb
Dam: Every Single Day
Color: Bay

Thirteen Colonies has improved with every start on turf, and he exits a solid runner-up finish in a $100,000 allowance optional claimer at Saratoga. He was beaten only by Simulate, who returned to finish second in the Secretariat (G2). Thirteen Colonies appears fast enough to factor even while stepping up in class for the Old Dominion Derby.

Lured Away

Lured Away wins at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Meida)

Start(s): 12
Wins: 3
Place: 2
Show: 3

Owner: David A. Bernsen
Breeder: University of Kentucky
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Emmanuel Esquivel

Top Speed Rating: (95) when winning a $75,000 allowance optional claimer at Colonial Dowms.
Total Earnings: $202,030

Sire: Enticed
Dam: Skindy
Color: Dark bay/brown

Lured Away has spent his first 12 starts competing on dirt, most recently finishing third in the Petramalo Mile S. at Colonial Downs. His Brisnet Speed ratings are sharp, but switching to turf could be an obstacle since he’s a son of Enticed, who sires only 3% winners from first-time turf starters.

Outrunner

Start(s): 4
Wins: 1
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: Colts Neck Stable
Breeder: Dixiana Farms
Trainer: Jorge Duarte Jr.
Jockey: Paco Lopez

Top Speed Rating: (89) when winning an allowance at Colonial Downs.
Total Earnings: $63,300

Sire: American Pharoah
Dam: Gale Force
Color: Chestnut

Outrunner has performed respectably on turf, with a runner-up finish in the Tale of the Cat S. at Monmouth Park ranking as his most notable accomplishment. But he’ll need to improve upon his career-best 89 Brisnet Speed rating to beat tougher foes in the Old Dominion Derby.