$500,000 Virginia Derby Quotes
Posted on March 14th, 2026
NEW KENT, VA. (March 14, 2026) —
Riley Mott, trainer of winner Incredibolt
“It was very impressive. He sat right in the pocket behind a hot pace and was surrounded by horses most of the way. He took Jaime right up into a hole on the rail turning for home and then just blasted off and was pulling away at the end. In his morning workouts and races, he’s always galloped out really well. He’s bred to do it and he’s shown us he can finish races going long, so we’re optimistic and hopeful we can make it to the first Saturday in May. I’m happy for the horse and our staff, and especially happy for the Pin Oak team and the Bernhard family. We’re missing a very important member today in Mr. Jim Bernhard, but I know he’s looking down on us.”
Jaime Torres, jockey of winner Incredibolt
“He’s really matured and has a lot more confidence now. That showed today.I felt like I had plenty of horse around the half-mile, and I thought the horses in front were starting to slow down a little. I was just waiting for the right spot. This is a dream come true.”
Rajiv Maragh, jockey of second-place finisher
“Based on that performance, you’d think he can keep improving and appreciate more distance. He settled beautifully, got into a nice rhythm and finished well.”
Julien Leparoux, jockey of third-place finisher Confessional
“He had a very good trip. He sat just off the pace and was very comfortable. I was able to get him out and make a run, and he finished strongly. We just got beat today. I thought it was a very good race for him — better than his last start. He ran his race today, and I think the blinkers helped keep him focused.”
Flavien Prat, jockey of fourth-place finisher Buetane
“He finished pretty well. From where I was, it just didn’t work out the way we wanted. But he made a good run.”
Joe Ramos, jockey of fifth-place finisher Ocelli
“He was traveling very well on the backside, and I thought I was in a good spot. Turning for home I tried to make my move, but in the stretch he started leaning inside and didn’t stay straight. He’s still learning. Horses like that need to learn to run straight and focus. He has the body and the stride — when he figures things out mentally, I think he could be a special horse.”
About Colonial Downs
Colonial Downs Racetrack, in New Kent, Virginia, hosts live Thoroughbred racing on two nationally renowned surfaces – the Secretariat Turf Course, the widest turf course in North America at 180 feet wide and on a 1 1/4-mile dirt track. The Colonial Downs Group, which is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN), also operates Rosie’s Gaming Emporiums® throughout the Commonwealth, which offer innovative historic horseracing (HHR) gaming and full-card simulcasting as well as Rosie’s Game Room in Collinsville, Roseshire Gaming Parlor in Henrico, and The Rose Gaming Resort® in Dumfries which offers 1,650 HHR gaming terminals, full-card simulcasting, eight bars and restaurants and more than 100 hotel rooms.
