Saturday’s $500,000 Virginia Derby drew a field of 10, including the Candy Meadows LLC-bred American Promise, seeking to earning the lion’s share of the 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points in the first running of the newly-minted Derby prep race.
The race offers 50-25-15-10-5 points to the top five finishers towards entry in the May 3rd Run for the Roses. American Promise earned his first five points in last month’s Risen Star S. (G2), and is looking to improve on that performance to continue on to Louisville.
The Virginia Derby was added to the Kentucky Derby prep schedule this year and has drawn an interesting mix of runners from around the country.
From the west coast is the Bob Baffert-trained Getaway Car, who won the Sunland Derby on Feb. 16. Florida is represented by Sam F. Davis S. winner John Hancock, while Omaha Omaha, who placed in both the Withers S. and Jerome S., ships from New York.
American Promise, trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas for BC Stables LLC, is a son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify. The chestnut colt earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 88 in the Risen Star, the second-highest number in Saturday’s field.
Nick Juarez picks up the mount on American Promise, who will break from post three in the nine-furlong race. As the featured ninth race on a stakes-filled card, the Virginia Derby runs at 5:10 pm ET.
American Promise is out of Tapella, who is also the dam of Grade 2 winner Hoosier Philly.
