Study Guide: 2026 Virginia Derby

Mar 10, 2026 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Incredibolt wins the Street Sense at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Media)

Saturday’s $500,000 Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs is a recent addition to the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The 1 1/8-mile race joined the series last year and awards 50-25-15-10-5 points to the top five finishers.

The 2026 Virginia Derby has drawn a competitive field of horses from all around the country. Let’s check out the entries:

Buetane

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

Owner: Zedan Racing Stables
Breeder: Merriebelle Stable
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Flavien Prat

Top Speed Rating: (98) when finishing second in the San Vicente (G2) at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $230,500

Sire: Tiz the Law
Dam: Taboo
Color: Chestnut

Buetane has shown talent against tougher competition, recording top-three finishes in the Hopeful (G1), San Vicente (G2), and Southwest (G3). But he tired down the homestretch of the 1 1/16-mile Southwest, finishing third by 3 1/4 lengths, so stretching out over 1 1/8 miles in the Virginia Derby is at least a small question mark.

SILENT TACTIC with a last to first win in the G3 Southwest and picks up 20 points towards the @kentuckyderby! 🔇🌹@markecasse trains the son of Tacitus and @cristiantorr64 was aboard!

At 12/1, the colt paid $26 to win. 💰

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/wbw8JL3i9L

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) February 6, 2026

Grittiness

Start(s): 5
Wins: 0
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: Repole Stable
Breeder: WinStar Farm
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Rajiv Maragh

Top Speed Rating: (87) when finishing fifth in the Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $68,750

Sire: Curlin
Dam: Coach Rocks
Color: Chestnut

Grittiness earned Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification points when finishing fifth in the Remsen (G2) and second in the Jerome S., but his career-best 87 Brisnet Speed rating looks light against the Virginia Derby field.

Epic Desire

Start(s): 6
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: Epic Horses
Breeder: Town & Country Horse Farms
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Sheldon Russell

Top Speed Rating: (86) when finishing fifth in the Sam F. Davis S. at Tampa Bay Downs.
Total Earnings: $62,525

Sire: Uncle Mo
Dam: Brooklynsway
Color: Bay

Epic Desire exits a fifth-place finish against a tough field in the Sam F. Davis S., but the 86 Brisnet Speed rating he received suggests he’ll need a step forward to beat faster rivals in the Virginia Derby.

Work

Start(s): 5
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Calumet Farm
Breeder: Vineyard Racing
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Jockey: Mychel Sanchez

Top Speed Rating: (82) when finishing fifth in a maiden special weight at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $45,600

Sire: American Pharoah
Dam: With Mischief
Color: Dark bay/brown

Work battled to a narrow victory in a maiden special weight sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs on turf at Santa Anita last month, but he’s failed to factor in two starts on dirt, so switching back to dirt for the Virginia Derby is an obstacle to overcome.

High Camp

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

Owner: OXO Equine
Breeder: OXO Equine
Trainer: William Walden
Jockey: John Velazquez

Top Speed Rating: (91) when finishing second in a maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $49,200

Sire: Instagrand
Dam: Summer Silk
Color: Bay

High Camp finished nicely to win a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park last month. He’s progressing in the right direction and warrants respect under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez.

Lockstocknpharoah

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

Owner: Let It Ride Equine Holdings III
Breeder: Amaroo Farm, Petaluma Bloodstock, and West Bloodstock
Trainer: Tom Drury Jr.
Jockey: Edgar Morales

Top Speed Rating: (92) when winning a $62,500 allowance optional claimer at Turfway Park.
Total Earnings: $89,451

Sire: American Pharoah
Dam: Lockstep
Color: Chestnut

Lockstocknpharoah has gone 2-for-2 over the synthetic Tapeta track at Turfway Park. Last time out, he led all the way to smash a one-mile $62,500 allowance optional claimer by 8 1/4 lengths. As a son of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, Lockstocknpharoah has the pedigree to handle 1 1/8 miles, so he looms as a win contender even while trying dirt for the first time in the Virginia Derby.

Incredibolt

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

Owner: Pin Oak Stud
Breeder: Deann Baer & Greg Baer DVM
Trainer: Riley Mott
Jockey: Jaime Torres

Top Speed Rating: (93) when winning the Street Sense (G3) at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $198,681

Sire: Bolt d’Oro
Dam: Sapphire Spitfire
Color: Dark bay/brown

Incredibolt launched a last-to-first rally to win the 1 1/16-mile Street Sense (G3) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby last fall. But he disappointed in his 2026 debut, finishing last of six in the Holy Bull (G3). He’ll need a rebound to challenge in the Virginia Derby.

⚡ Incredibolt goes from last to first in the G3 Street Sense and earns 10 Kentucky Derby points! @jaimetorresjcky was aboard for trainer @riley_mott.

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/w8OfRtZnmz

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) October 26, 2025

Confessional

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Steve Landers Racing
Breeder: Breed First
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (93) when winning a Keeneland maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $78,485

Sire: Essential Quality
Dam: Speedy Vanessa
Color: Gray/roan

Confessional showed talent in his first two sprint starts, but when he stretched out to 1 1/16 miles in the Sam F. Davis, he tired to finish seventh. Tackling 1 1/8 miles in the Virginia Derby is a question mark.

Ocelli

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

Owner: Ashley Durr, Anthony Tate, and Front Page Equestrian
Breeder: Rosedown Racing Stables
Trainer: D. Whitworth Beckman
Jockey: Joseph Ramos

Top Speed Rating: (86) when finishing sixth in the Sam F. Davis S. at Tampa Bay Downs.
Total Earnings: $33,600

Sire: Connect
Dam: Zalia
Color: Bay

Ocelli has faced quality competition throughout his career, but he’s 0-for-4 so far and exits a sixth-place finish in the Sam F. Davis, so he’ll need a step forward to record a top-five finish in the Virginia Derby.

Clocker Special

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

Owner: Storyteller Racing, Open Gate Horse Ventures, Brian Cahoe, Scott Catlett, Dave Russel, and Matthew Ransdell
Breeder: Fred W. Hertrich III and John D. Fielding
Trainer: Rodolphe Brisset
Jockey: Cristian Torres

Top Speed Rating: (86) when winning a maiden special weight at Ellis Park.
Total Earnings: $96,488

Sire: Not This Time
Dam: Chiding
Color: Dark bay/brown

Clocker Special recently returned from a long break to finish second by a neck in a $150,000 allowance optional claimer racing 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Park. With this solid comeback effort under his belt, Clocker Special is eligible to improve and challenge for a strong finish in the Virginia Derby.