One in Vermillion

One in Vermillion finished fifth in his graded stakes debut, the Grade 3 Sunland Park Derby on March 26, 2023, and in the process earned five qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve. The Army Mule colt entered the Sunland Park Derby on a three-race win streak, all in stakes races, including a one-length score in the Riley Allison Derby at Sunland Park. He was no threat to the top finishers in the Grade 3 event but did enter the Kentucky Derby leaderboard via his nomination to the Triple Crown series.

In his subsequent start, One in Vermillion entered the Grade 1 $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 8, where he finished fifth. Taken off the Triple Crown trail, One in Vermillion regained his winning stride in the Lazaro Barrera Stakes at Santa Anita Park, leading from the start and then pulling away to win by 5 ¼ lengths. He followed with an allowance win at Canterbury Park before finishing second there in the Canterbury Derby June 21 in his turf debut.

On in Vermillion finished first in the Iowa Derby but was disqualified for interference in the stretch and place second. After finishing third in the Grade 3 West Virginia Derby, One in Vermillion earned the most important win of his career to date when he prevailed in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes on the Travers Stakes undercard Aug. 26 at Saratoga.

One in Vermillion was bred in California by the sire Army Mule out of the mare Given Star by Any Given Saturday.