By Matt Shifman and Bob Ehalt

The $500,000 Virginia Derby, Colonial Downs

Race 9 – The Virginia Derby, which was formerly run on the turf, is the first Kentucky Derby prep race to be run at Colonial Downs in Virginia. It is the final stop on the Derby to offer [50-25-15-10-5] qualifying points to the top five finishers. A field of nine will go nine-furlongs around one-turn. (7) Rapture comes to the Kentucky Derby trail after just two starts. The Brad Cox runner was second in his debut at Gulfstream Park as the favorite behind a talented horse that won his next start. Rapture did so also when he broke his maiden by more than six lengths at Oaklawn. He should get the right set-up for a move from a stalking position. (6) Getaway Car will ship to the east for Bob Baffert and will be a heavy favorite based on his success as a 2-year-old. He won the Sunland Derby in his 2025 debut and currently has 36 Derby points. Expect him to be on the lead as he tries the longer distance for the first time. (4) Omaha Omaha showed that he can handle today’s distance after closing for third in the Withers at Aqueduct. Before that he was second in the Jerome. (8) Authentic Gallop needed five races to get his first win and then made two big jumps in speed figures in his next two starts. Last month at Oaklawn he had a gutsy win in an allowance by a head. Betting strategy:  Exacta box: 4, 6, 7, 8. Trifecta box:  4, 6, 7, 8.