American Promise Much the Best in $500,000 Virginia Derby

New Kent, Va (March 15, 2025) – In the first-ever Kentucky Derby points race at Colonial Downs, BC Stables’ American Promise proved much the best to win the $500,000 Virginia Derby by 7¾ lengths over Render Judgment, earning 50 points and all but securing a spot in the “Run for the Roses” on the first Saturday in May.

Trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, American Promise set a track record, covering 1 1/8 miles in 1:46.41 under jockey Nik Juarez.

“I didn’t want to use my horse early but I knew I had to get forward position with how the track has been playing,” Juarez said. “I’m just a guy who is lucky enough to be named to ride Mr. Lukas’ horses. To be heading to the (Kentucky) Derby for him is a dream come true. American Promise is doing so good. He proved himself out there today.”

After breaking in second behind Getaway Car, American Promise pressured the odds-on favorite who clocked hot opening fractions of :23.12 and :45.20. Render Judgment got away well from the gate and settled in behind the leaders, who began to pull away from the field down the backstretch. In the turn, American Promise bore down on Getaway Car, headed that foe with a 3/8 of a mile left, and never looked back, adding to his lead down the stretch. Render Judgment ran hard late but could never menace the winner, while Omaha Omaha, who came from the back of the pack, finished third in a blanket finish. Getaway Car held on for fourth over the late-running Studlydoright.

Rapture and Authentic Gallop rounded out the order of finish.

Along with the five points he earned running fifth last out in the Risen Star, American Promise now has 55 qualifying points for the 151st Kentucky Derby. Picking up 25 points for his second-place finish, Render Judgment no has a total of 29 points. The Virginia-bred Omaha Omaha earned 15 points for running third and now boasts 26 points. Entering the local derby with 36 points, Getaway Car’s fourth boosts his total to 46. Adding 5 for running fifth in the Virginia Derby, Studlydoright now has 11 points.

American Promise returned $16.80, $8.20, and $5.40. Render Judgment paid $15.00 and $9.00. Omaha Omaha returned $5.20.

Bred in Kentucky by Candy Meadows, American Promise is by Justify and out of the Tapit mare Tapella.

With his win in the Virginia Derby, American Promise now has a career record of 9-2-1-1 with $444,874 in earnings.

Virginia Derby Day concluded the historic three-day spring meet. Colonial Downs’ expanded 2025 racing season will continue with 41 days of live racing each Wednesday through Saturday from July 9 through September 13.

Additional Virginia Derby Quotes

Sheldon Russell, jockey of Render Judgment (2nd)
“Kenny had spoken to me this morning and said he had added the blinkers and that the horse is doing good. I loved the outside post because in his replays I saw he could get away a few strides slow, so with a few nudges he put me in a good forward spot early. I could have kept him wide but I decided to tip in and follow Getaway Car. At the half mile pole I felt like I was going better than him, so I angled him out and hoped my horse could make that run but I just couldn’t run down (American Promise).”

Irad Ortiz Jr., jockey of Getaway Car (4th as post-time favorite)
“I broke good and I didn’t want to give up the lead. I cleared (American Promise) but he came back and pressed me the whole way. Then he galloped. That was a huge performance by (American Promise).”

Flavien Prat, jockey of Rapture (6th):
“They went fast and I was traveling well down the backside but they just never came back to me. I thought he had seemed more mature than (when aboard him last time), but he didn’t run better that’s for sure.”