Photo:

Richard Steele / Eclipse Sportswire

Final preparations are underway for Virginia Derby weekend at Colonial Downs, where a three-day meet from March 13-15 will feature Saturday’s stakes doubleheader, the $500,000 Virginia Derby and $250,000 Virginia Oaks.

“It’s shaping up to be a great weekend of racing,” trainer Brad Cox said. “We plan to have several horses to run, including one in the Virginia Derby.”

Among the expected contenders for the Virginia Derby is Gaming. Trained by Bob Baffert, Gaming won the Del Mar Futurity (G1) as a 2-year-old and went on to finish second to his stablemate Citizen Bull in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Top jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. is scheduled to have the call in the Virginia Derby.

Another accomplished 3-year-old expected to enter the Virginia Derby is Omaha Omaha, who began his road to the Kentucky Derby campaign with a second-place finish in the Jerome Stakes and a third in the Withers Stakes at Aqueduct. The Virginia-bred son of Audible has been preparing for the Virginia Derby at his Laurel Park base, where he completed a five-furlong work in 1:03.60 on Saturday.

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said he is likely to send American Promise to the Virginia Derby. The son of Justify broke his maiden Dec. 29 at Oaklawn Park, then finished seventh in the Southwest Stakes (G3) and fifth in Fair Grounds’ Risen Star Stakes (G2). American Promise tuned up for the Virginia Derby on Monday at Oaklawn, working six furlongs in a sharp 1:11.80.

The Virginia Derby awards 50-25-15-10-5 qualifying points toward Kentucky Derby 2025. The Virginia Oaks awards points on the same scale toward the $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 2.

Trainer Graham Motion said on the “Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast” that Fondly is likely to make the journey from South Florida for the Virginia Oakks The daughter of Upstart broke her maiden on debut three weeks ago at Tampa Bay Downs, cruising to a four-length victory.

Another accomplished filly aiming for the Virginia Oaks is Icona Mama. Trained by Flint Stites, Icona Mama began her Road to the Kentucky Oaks with a third-place finish in the Pocahontas Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs in mid-September. Since that race, the Pennsylvania-bred daughter of Maximus Mischief won the Shamrock Rose Stakes at Penn National by an eye-catching 9 1/2 lengths.

Entries for the three-day meet will be taken seven days in advance, with the entry schedule as follows: Thursday for March 13, Friday for March 14 and Saturday for March 15.

First post is 12:30 p.m. EDT Thursday and Friday, and noon. Saturday.

Friday’s card is highlighted by the $150,000 Boston Handicap and $150,000 Stellar Wind Handicap, both restricted to Virginia-bred, -sired or -certified horses.

After Virginia Derby weekend, Colonial Downs’ expanded 2025 racing season will feature 41 days of live racing, running Wednesday through Saturday from July 9 through Sept. 13, plus a special holiday card on Labor Day Monday, Sept. 1.