Virginia Derby Provides Distance Option for Trainers

In just its second year as a Road to the Kentucky Derby points race, the $500,000 Virginia Derby offers an enticing option for some Kentucky Derby (G1) hopefuls in terms of distance as a 1 1/8-mile race contested at one turn. The March 14 race at Colonial Downs will offer a total of 105 points on a 50-25-15-10-5 schedule to the top five finishers. While it's 1 1/8-mile distance will soon become the norm on this year's schedule of qualifying races, the one turn provides an interesting option for trainers looking for just the right amount of added distance challenge. Had trainers who have entered horses in this race waited another week, they could have opted for the first 200-point races (100-50-25-15-10) of the season in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park or the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, but both of those races are two-turn tests, the former at 1 1/8 miles and the latter at 1 3/16 miles. That will be the norm for the 200-point races in the weeks ahead. Trainers looking for a slightly different option have one in Saturday's lucrative race at Colonial, which offers a sweeping dirt track outside its many rail options for turf racing on its expansive lawn. The track focuses on turf racing, but Churchill Downs Inc. owns the track and added a stop on the Derby trail that puts the dirt track to terrific use. The favorite in this year's Virginia Derby, Zedan Racing Stables' Buetane won his debut in a maiden special weight at 6 furlongs in August at Del Mar, earned a grade 1 placing when second in the 7-furlong Hopeful Stakes (G1) in September at Saratoga Race Course, and then stayed at that distance when second in his 3-year-old debut in the San Vicente Stakes (G2) in January at Santa Anita Park. Last month the son of Tiz the Law secured 6 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby (G1) when third in the 1 1/16-mile Southwest Stakes (G3), a two-turn test at Oaklawn Park. Trained by Bob Baffert, Buetane will stretch out a half-furlong but return to one turn Saturday. Road to the Kentucky Derby points standings Saturday's one-turn Derby prep seems a tailor-made next step for High Camp, who posted a clear victory in a Feb. 7 maiden special weight race at Gulfstream Park. That win at 7 furlongs for trainer Will Walden followed a debut where the son of Instagrand finished second going 6 furlongs in December at Gulfstream. The one-turn test figures to help provide answers for a number of trainers Saturday. Confessional finished off the board in his first two-turn start, the Sam F. Davis Stakes Feb. 7 at Tampa Bay Downs. Now trainer Brad Cox will stretch the son of Essential Quality out to 1 1/8 miles but keep him at one turn. Confessional, the second choice on the morning-line at 4-1, rolled to victory in a 7-furlong maiden race in October at Keeneland and followed with a runner-up finish in an allowance-level race to open this season Jan. 2 at Gulfstream.