Tipsheet: 2024 Virginia Derby

A dozen three-year-olds will jaunt 1 1/8 miles on the Colonial Downs green in Saturday’s $500,000 Virginia Derby (G3). 

Virginia Derby Picks

• #3 Deterministic
• #10 Oscar’s World
• #7 Desvio
• #2 Grand Mo the First

Virginia Derby Wagers

• $15 win and place #3 Deterministic
• $5 exacta key box 3 with 2,7,10

Virginia Derby Contenders

#1 HERCHEE – This Twirling Candy colt is 2-for-2 to commence his career for conditioner Helen Pitts. The Kentucky-bred bay was a nice allowance victor at Ellis Park in his debut with winners, and a forward move could vault him into the top-four picture with Edgar Morales in the controls. 

#2 GRAND MO THE FIRST – The two-time Grade-3 placed colt earned his initial stakes win when annexing the Bear’s Den S. on the Gulfstream green last time out. The Victor Barboza trainee has won or placed in all but one career assignment to date, and the son of Uncle Mo has the tactical speed to be in range throughout. Paco Lopez inherits the ride. 

#3 DETERMINISTIC – This Christophe Clement pupil has hit the board in a pair of tough turf races in the Empire State in succession and gets top billing in the cast. The Gotham S. (G3) star has handled the transition to turf racing quite well and will be tough to deny if he shows even slight improvement off his last performance. Manny Franco comes in to guide this son of Liam’s Map. 

#4 IZZY D’ORO – This speedy son of Get Stormy has finished off the board in a pair of stakes tries in advance of Saturday, but he is not without a chance in this particular spot. The chestnut has been much improved since having the blinkers removed in March, and he could be in the running for a long time at a nice price under David Cohen. 

#5 FRONTLINE WARRIOR – This Shug McGaughey pupil will cut back in trip following a fifth-place result in the Kent S. in his most recent appearance. The War Front colt owns a solid turn of foot, and he might grab a share with a lifetime best beneath Vincent Cheminaud. 

#6 IN A JAM – The consistent stakes winner from the Mark Casse shedrow was third behind a fine top pair in the Secretariat (G2) on the course in his graded bow and fits well in this field. The gray colt has a good measure of early foot to get into the race early, and the Kentucky-bred figures to be well placed at the top of the lane with Mychel Sanchez in the stirrups. 

#7 DESVIO – This interesting sort was a measured winner of the Kent S. at Delaware Park for Madison Meyers last out and looms large with another step in the right direction while he makes his first run at Colonial. This Yoshida gelding is perfect from a pair of outings since having blinkers added, and the gray might be moving as well as any in the field late. Ben Curtis retains the ride. 

#8 MASSIF – This one-run closer from the dangerous Brittany Russell barn was a nonfactor in an allowance heat on the surface most recently, and he will be hard to back coming off that type of performance. Sheldon Russell will guide this son of Sky Mesa. 

#9 ECHO LANE – This Treasure Beach three-year-old has gone unplaced in his two career stakes tries leading up to Saturday, and others in this big field appear more likely to perform better. The Florida-bred colt did win on the strip in his latest and also has fine turf pilot Antonio Gallardo on board, but I will let him beat me.

#10 OSCAR’S WORLD – This Brian Lynch trainee finished a decent fourth in a deep stakes field at Ellis Park in his latest, which followed a fine allowance triumph on the same course two prior. The Walmac Farm color-bearer is not very consistent, but his form is good right now and his best race should give him a chance to win at a decent price. Martin Garcia will guide the colt once again. 

#11 FULMINEO – This Bold d’Oro colt was visually impressive when taking the Boston S. on this oval two races prior, but his subpar try at Saratoga in his most recent offering left much to be desired. The Arnaud Delacour trainee is surely good enough to be in the mix late with his best showing, but I don’t love the chances of the Maryland-bred from this post under Victor Carrasco. 

#12 ZVEREV – This Cherie DeVaux pupil was handed a tough assignment while drawing widest of all in the feature. The talented son of Oscar Performance comes off a decent showing in the Hall of Fame (G2) at Saratoga, but he will need better on this occasion to make his presence felt with Jorge Ruiz in the silks.