NEW KENT — The race fields for Saturday’s 2025 Virginia Derby and 2025 Virginia Oaks have been set and Colonial Downs Racetrack announced Wednesday that the March 15 event is officially a sellout.
“Racing’s legends and rising stars will be continuing their journey on The Road to the Kentucky Derby right here at Colonial Downs this Saturday,” said Frank Hopf, Senior Director of Racing Operations for Colonial Downs. “The 2025 Virginia Derby and Virginia Oaks will feature world-class horses trained and jockeyed by some of the absolute best in the business. This is sure to be an exciting and historic day in Virginia racing!”
For the first time, the 2025 Virginia Derby will serve as a qualifying race on The Road to the Kentucky Derby, with the winning horse securing a spot in the 151st Kentucky Derby.
The 2025 Virginia Derby will feature:
- Early favorite Getaway Car, trained by two-time Triple Crown-winning and six-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert
- American Promise, son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify trained by four-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer D. Wayne Lukas
- Render Judgement, featuring the trainer/jockey combination of Ken McPeek and Brian Hernandez Jr., who won the 2024 Kentucky Derby with Mystik Dan and 2024 Kentucky Oaks with Thorpedo Anna
- Omaha Omaha, born at Chance Farm in Gordonsville and running his first race in his home state
- John Hancock, ridden by Mike Smith, who won the 2018 Triple Crown aboard Justify and has won a total of seven Triple Crown races in his career
The full Virginia Derby field with odds as of Saturday, March 8:
- Calling Card (Luan Machado, Mike Maker, 15-1)
- John Hancock (Mike Smith, Brad Cox, 3-1)
- American Promise (Nik Juarez, D. Wayne Lukas, 12-1)
- Omaha Omaha (Raul Mena, Michael Gorham, 10-1)
- Studlydoright (Xavier Perez, John Robb, 15-1)
- Getaway Car (Irad Ortiz, Jr., Bob Baffert, 9-5)
- Rapture (Flavien Prat, Brad Cox, 5-1)
- Authentic Gallop (Javier Castellano, Tom Amoss, 10-1)
- Render Judgement (Brian Hernandez, Jr., Ken McPeek, 12-1)
- Georgia Magic (Sheldon Russell, Ray Handal, 30-1)
(Jockey, Trainer, Odds)
The 2025 Virginia Oaks will feature a field of eight three-year-old fillies seeking qualification for the 2025 Kentucky Oaks.
These include:
- Gowells Delight and Anonima, both trained by 2024 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks winning trainer Ken McPeek. Gowells Delight will be ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., who won the 2024 Kentucky Derby aboard Mystik Dan and the 2024 Kentucky Oaks riding Thorpedo Anna
- Low Key, ridden by Mike Smith, who won the 2018 Triple Crown aboard Justify and has won a total of seven Triple Crown races in his career
- Icona Mama, ridden by three-time Kentucky Derby winner John Velazquez
- You’ll Be Back, ridden by four-time Triple Crown race-winning jockey Javier Castellano
The full Virginia Oaks field with odds as of Saturday, March 8:
- Icona Mama (John Velazquez, Flint Stites, 8-1)
- Low Key (Mike Smith, Tom Amoss, 10-1)
- Gowells Delight (Brian Hernandez, Jr., Ken McPeek, 3-1)
- Anonima (Colby Hernandez, Ken McPeek, 6-1)
- Early On (Flavien Prat, Saffie Joseph, Jr., 8-1)
- You’ll Be Back (Javier Castellano, Tom Amoss, 9-2)
- Girl Math (Luan Machado, Rodolphe Brisset, 5-1)
- Fondly (Irad Ortiz, Jr., Graham Motion, 7-2)
(Jockey, Trainer, Odds)
Derby Day will feature a 10-race card including the Virginia Oaks (Race 8) and Virginia Derby (Race 9.)
Colonial Downs Announces Sellout
More than 8,000 guests and race fans are expected for Saturday’s event and no more General Admission or Reserved tickets are available. Tickets for Virginia Derby Day will not be available at the gate, though fans are encouraged to visit the track on Thursday or Friday to experience live racing duringthe three-day spring race meet.
“We are absolutely thrilled by Virginians’ response to this historic day of racing,” said Hopf. “We will have great racing on Thursday and Friday leading up to the main event on Saturday when some of our sport’s legends and brightest stars will take to the track. Colonial Downs is becoming a destination for premier racing in our region and this sellout proves that we’re just scratching the surface of what we can do here in the Commonwealth.”
This special weekend of spring racing begins at Colonial Downs on Thursday, March 13, with a post time of 12:30 p.m., continues on Friday, March 14 with races beginning at 12:30 p.m. General Admission entry for these two days is free for all fans, with tickets available for purchase for an elevated experience in the Jockey Club, 1609 Restaurant Club, and Grandstand Boxes or Grandstand Reserves.
Following this weekend event, Colonial Downs will prepare for its traditional summer racing season with live racing every Wednesday through Saturday from July 9 through Sept. 13. In total, Colonial Downs will host 44 days of live racing in 2025, a new record number of race days since the track reopened in 2019.
For more information on the Virginia Derby or the upcoming summer race season, visit colonialdowns.com.
