After his late-charging victory in the Grade 3 Street Sense Stakes last October, there was plenty of chatter about Pin Oak Stud’s Incredibolt, putting him firmly in the mix among the soon-to-be 3-year-olds to watch on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Then came a less-than-ideal sixth-place effort in the Holy Bull Stakes to kick off his 3-year-old campaign, putting any dreams of a run for the roses into question.

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With the number of days until the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve dwindling, the opportunities to prove he still belongs in the conversations he was once part of are also evaporating. It’s why the $506,000 Virginia Derby Presented by New Kent County at Colonial Downs March 14 would prove critical in shaping the direction of his year.

Turning on the jets inside the final furlong, Incredibolt surged to the front and captured the Virginia Derby — and the 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points that come with it. Now with 60 points, Incredibolt ranks second on the Derby points leaderboard and is all but assured a spot in the starting gate for the sport’s biggest race.

“He’s really matured and has a lot more confidence now,” jockey Jaime Torres said. “That showed today. I felt like I had plenty of horse around the half-mile, and I thought the horses in front were starting to slow down a little. I was just waiting for the right spot. This is a dream come true.”

The fourth betting choice among 10 starters, Incredibolt settled in midpack in a field that was tightly bunched together for much of the race. Less than five lengths separated all 10 runners at the half-mile point of the 1 1/8-mile race.

Lockstocknpharoah jumped out to the early lead and looked poised to fend off any challengers until late. While the rest of the field settled in behind him and shuffled around like a deck of cards, the son of American Pharoah was looking to extend his career-opening win streak to a perfect 3-for-3.

Meanwhile, the Bob Baffert-trained Buetane, who was the big favorite at 3-2 odds, found himself bottled up and unable to make a serious threat. This opened the door for Incredibolt.

Incredibolt wins Virginia Derby (Coady Media)

Torres didn’t force the issue, letting the race come to him and the Bolt d’Oro colt. Riding just behind Lockstocknpharoah and with Work along the rail to his left and a cluster of rivals fighting to get to the outside, there wasn’t much room to move.

But as the field came out of the turn and hit the stretch, Work began to fade, creating an opening along the rail. Torres seized the opportunity and Incredibolt charged forward, finally overtaking Lockstocknpharoah, who ultimately finished fifth.

Incredibolt left nothing to chance, clearing the field by four lengths in 1:47.76. The win paid $14.40. Grittiness was second, Confessional third, and Buetane fourth. In addition to Incredibolt’s 50 points for winning the race, qualifying points were distributed on a 25-15-10-5 scale to the second- through fifth-place finishers.

“It was very impressive,” trainer Riley Mott said. “He sat right in the pocket behind a hot pace and was surrounded by horses most of the way. He took Jaime right up into a hole on the rail turning for home and then just blasted off and was pulling away at the end. In his morning workouts and races, he’s always galloped out really well. He’s bred to do it and he’s shown us he can finish races going long, so we’re optimistic and hopeful we can make it to the first Saturday in May. I’m happy for the horse and our staff, and especially happy for the Pin Oak team and the Bernhard family. We’re missing a very important member today in Mr. Jim Bernhard, but I know he’s looking down on us.”

Bernhard died in November 2025 following a brief illness at the age of 71.

Bottle of Rouge Rolls in Virginia Oaks

Bottle of Rouge, trained by Bob Baffert and owned by his wife, Jill, crushed the competition in the $250,000 Virginia Oaks Presented by New Kent County March 14 at Colonial Downs.

Bottle of Rouge wins Virginia Oaks. (Coady Media)

Under jockey Flavien Prat, the Grade 1-winning daughter of Vino Rosso settled in third off the pace that was set by Dazzling Dame, with quarter-mile fractions that went in :22.61, :45.64, and 1:09.74. She continued to travel just off the pace down the backstretch and around the far turn. On the turn for home, she came off the rail and started to run down the leader, taking command through a mile in 1:34.64. She continued to open up on her rivals in the stretch and won by 4 1/4 widening lengths in a final time of 1:41.41.

“I wasn't sure how the race would set up because there was a lot of speed, but we were able to settle her,” said Jimmy Barnes, Bob Baffert’s longtime assistant. “She rated well, and Flavien was patient and found a hole to get through. She did the rest. One of the question marks was how she would handle the progression — stretching out in distance and facing classier fillies — but she handled it well.”

Dazzling Dame was second, and Baffle was 8 1/4 lengths off the winner in third. Bottle of Rouge went off the post-time favorite, and paid $3.60 for a $2 wager. The Virginia Oaks is a points race on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks and awarded qualifying points of 37.5, 18.75, 11.25, 7.5, and 3.75 to the five finishers in the race, reduced totals because of just five starters in the race following the scratch of Somemunny to Love. After earning 20 points with an earlier win in the Sunland Park Oaks, Bottle of Rouge now has 57.5 points to rank third on the leaderboard.—Lizzy Madden