1 of 2 | Paladin, shown winning the 2025 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct, tops the Kentucky Derby leaderboard as hopefuls gear up for three weeks of intense competition to make the 20-horse field. Photo courtesy of NYRA
March 13 (UPI) — Saturday’s Virginia Derby gives 10 contenders a chance to run their way into Kentucky Derby contention on a weekend otherwise largely devoted to sprints.
The big push of final Derby preps starts the following weekend with the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds and the Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park. March 28 brings the Florida Derby, Arkansas Derby and the deciding races in the Japanese and Middle Eastern series, each of which carries at free pass to the Run for the Roses.
By the time the Santa Anita Derby, Wood Memorial at Aqueduct and Blue Grass at Keeneland go into the books April 4, the day before Easter, just about all the eggs should be in the Kentucky Derby basket.
Things are quiet on the international front. But who’s the top-rated horse in the year’s first global rankings? Hint: It’s not Forever Young. See “News and Notes” below.
The Road to the Roses
Saturday’s $500,000 Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs is the only stop on the weekend’s “Road to the Kentucky Derby and, once again, provides a golden opportunity for a breakout performance.
Best poised to move forward at Colonial? To all appearances, that’s California shipper Buetane. The Tiz the Law colt finished second in the Grade I Hopeful at Saratoga last summer and second in the Grade II San Vicente in his 3-year-old debut.
He missed a chance to shine while finishing third in the Grade II Southwest at Oaklawn. He was a $1.15 million yearling item for owner Amr Zedan and the 92 Beyer Speed Figure he was awarded for the San Vicente effort is the highest in the Virginia Derby field.
Buetane has only six points on the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” leaderboard, tied for the 40th spot. He would need a victory Saturday, worth 50 points, to be fairly sure of a spot in the Churchill Downs starting gate.
A victory also could, pending the final round of Derby preps, make him trainer Bob Baffert’s best hope for a seventh Kentucky Derby trophy.
Three of the other nine Virginia Derby contenders exit disappointing efforts in the Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs. Two others come off maiden wins and neither is nominated to the Triple Crown.
Incredibolt won the Grade III Street Sense in the fall at Churchill Downs, but finished last of six in the Grade III Holy Bull in his only previous start this year.
Paladin, a Gun Runner colt, is atop the “Road” leaderboard with 60 points after winning the Grade II Remsen at Aqueduct and the Grade II Risen Star at Fair Grounds.
The fifth pool of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager will open Friday with Paladin as the 5-1 favorite, and a good showing in the April 4 Blue Grass at Keeneland could cement his stock as a favorite for the Run for the Roses.
He’s followed on the Future Wager morning line by Commandment at 6-1 and Nearly at 8-1. Commandment has won the Mucho Macho Man and Grade II Fountain of Youth in his last two starts. Nearly has won his last three starts, including the Grade III Holy Bull.
The path to the Oaks
Baffert sends out the favorite in the Oaks, too — Bottle of Rouge, a Vino Rosso filly owned by his wife, Jill. The filly won the Grade I Del Mar Debutante before finishing sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. She won her first start this year, the Sunland Park Oaks on Feb. 15.
The field also includes Hit Parade, winner of three straight in 2025 but fifth in her 3-year-old debut, and Dazzling Dame, winner of four of her five career starts.
Sprint
Saturday’s $250,000 Grade III Whitmore at Oaklawn Park drew a field of seven, and a case can be made for just about any one of them.
Also on tap are Saturday’s $125,000 Hutcheson at Gulfstream Park and Saturday’s $135,000 Jimmy Winkfield for 3-year-olds at Aqueduct.
Filly & mare sprint
Saturday’s $150,000 Purple Martin for 3-year-old fillies at Oaklawn Park got seven takers and, like the Whitmore, looks like a wide-open affair.
The schedule also includes Saturday’s $125,000 Any Limit for 3-year-old fillies at Gulfstream Park and Saturday’s $125,000 Queen Stakes on the Turfway Park all-weather course.
Turf sprint
From one coast to the other, the slate has Saturday’s $150,000 Captiva Island for fillies and mares at Gulfstream Park and Saturday’s $100,000 Grade III San Simeon at Santa Anita.
Dirt mile
The supporting program for the Virginia Derby and Oaks consists of Saturday’s $100,000 Royal New Kent and $100,000 Sandy Bottom for fillies and mares, both at Colonial Downs
Filly & mare turf
Sunday’s $100,000 Grade III Santa Ana at Santa Anita has a full field of 10 plus an also-eligible to tackle 1 1/4 miles.
News and notes
Hong Kong horses hold the top two spots in the first 2026 edition of the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings. Super sprinter Ka Ying Rising is No. 1 with a 128 rating, followed by Romantic Warrior at 124.
Despite his second consecutive victory in the Saudi Cup, Japan’s Forever Young is stuck at No. 3 with a 123 rating. Ireland’s Royal Champion at 122 and American standard-bearer Nysos at 121 round out the top five.
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