Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas’ entrant in the March 15 Virginia Derby delivered a career-best effort to finish 7 3/4 lengths ahead of runner-up Render Judgment, setting a track record for 1 1/8 miles on the dirt at Colonial Downs.

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Jockey Nik Juarez brought American Promise triumphantly across the finish line in 1:46.41 to claim the winner’s share of the $527,500 prize and 50 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve.

“It worked out perfectly,” said Bas Nicholl, Lukas’ assistant trainer who made the trip with American Promise. “I think it was a perfect ride by the jockey. He got him into a perfect stalking position and then executed perfectly.”

In front of a record crowd, American Promise pressed 4-5 favorite Getaway Car, the Sunland Park Derby winner from the barn of Bob Baffert, kicked into high gear coming around the turn, and kept running down the stretch, pulling away from the field impressively.

ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY LEADERBOARD

“I didn’t want to use my horse early, but I knew I had to get forward position with how the track has been playing,” Juarez said. “I’m just a guy who is lucky enough to be named to ride Mr. Lukas’ horses. To be heading to the Derby for him is a dream come true. American Promise is doing so good. He proved himself out there today.”

This was the first time the Virginia Derby served as a qualifier for the Kentucky Derby and the day had extra pomp because of it. Churchill Downs track announcer Travis Stone — the voice of the Kentucky Derby — was on the microphone, and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin presented the trophy in the winner’s circle.

American Promise winning Virginia Derby (Coady Media)

It also brought out some of the biggest names in the sport. Render Judgment, conditioned by last year’s Kentucky Derby-winning trainer winner Ken McPeek, was ridden by jockey Sheldon Russell after last year’s Derby-winning rider, Brian Hernandez Jr., had plane issues, according to a social media posting from McPeek before the race.

“I loved the outside post because, in his replays, I saw he could get away a few strides slow, so with a few nudges, he put me in a good forward spot early,” Russell said. “I could have kept him wide but I decided to tip in and follow Getaway Car. At the half-mile pole, I felt like I was going better than him, so I angled him out and hoped my horse could make that run but I just couldn’t run down [American Promise].”

Now with 29 points, Render Judgment vaulted himself into contention for a spot in the Kentucky Derby. He currently sits in 14th place as he tries to earn a spot in the 20-horse field.

Omaha Omaha, the local fan favorite, born at Chance Farm in Gordonville, Va., also finished well to take third.

“I thought [Omaha Omaha] ran excellent,” trainer Michael Gorham said. “He closed a lot of ground. He was still coming at the end. Got beat by some good horses. They ran fast. They ran a track record.”

Getaway Car faded to fourth, earning 10 points to give him a total of 46, placing him eighth in the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard should his connections decide to go on.—Mike Barber

Fondly Unrelenting in Virginia Oaks Score

Unfazed by a step up to stakes company, Fondly outbattled more seasoned rivals to take the March 15 Virginia Oaks in only her second career start for trainer Graham Motion.

Fondly was all heart in the Virginia Oaks. (Coady Media)

After the scratch of morning-line favorite Gowells Delight, a reduced field of six 3-year-old fillies lined up for the $250,000 Virginia Oaks during Colonial Downs’ inaugural spring meet.

Fondly collected 50 points toward qualifying for the Longines Kentucky Oaks for her win in the 1 1/16-mile Virginia Oaks, placing her in the fourth slot on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard. With only two starts, the Upstart filly is currently the most lightly-raced established contender on the Oaks trail.

Purchased by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners for $50,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall yearling sale, Fondly represented the Eclipse colors proudly in her debut, rolling to an eye-catching maiden special weight win at Tampa Bay Downs Feb. 14.

Quick out of the gate on Saturday, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. sat tight on Fondly as she hooked the Kenny McPeek-trained Anonima to her inside. The pair duked it out through quarter-mile fractions of :23.49, :46.58, and 1:10.59 on a track that produced fast times. Turning for home, Anonima showed no signs of slowing down, forcing Fondly to dig deep to overtake her stubborn challenger, who ultimately weakened in the final furlong. Sticking a head in front in deep stretch, Fondly turned away a late challenge from Early On to score by a half-length.

Fondly, sent to post as the 6-5 favorite in her first stakes test, returned $4.40 for a $2 win wager. She completed the distance, which was held around one turn, in 1:42.51.

“It was only her second start, and we knew she could get the distance, but I didn’t want to use her energy early if I didn’t have to,” Ortiz said.  “Last time, she missed the break a little bit, but today she broke good, put me in a good position, and when the horse inside started to show speed, I let her go and stuck second. Down the stretch she kept coming all the way to the wire. My filly stepped up today.”—Molly Rollins