The D. Wayne Lukas entry in the March 15 Virginia Derby delivered a career-best effort to finish 7 3/4 lengths ahead of Render Judgment and 8 1/2 lengths clear of Virginia-bred Omaha Omaha, setting a track record for 1 1/8 miles on the dirt at Colonial Downs.
Jockey Nik Juarez brought BC Stables' American Promise triumphantly across the finish line in 1:46.41 to claim the winner's share of the $527,500 prize and 50 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby (G1).
"It worked out perfectly," said Bas Nicholl, Lukas' assistant trainer who made the trip with American Promise. "I think it was a perfect ride by the jockey. He got him into a perfect stalking position and then executed perfectly."
In front of a record crowd, American Promise pressed the 4-5 favorite from the barn of Bob Baffert—Getaway Car—then kicked into high gear coming around the turn and kept running down the stretch, pulling away from the field impressively.
"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 Derby for him is a dream come true. American Promise is doing so good. He proved himself out there today."
This was the first time the Virginia Derby served as a qualifier for the Kentucky Derby and the day had extra pomp because of it. Churchill Downs track announcer Travis Stone—the voice of the Kentucky Derby—was on the microphone, and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin presented the trophy in the winner's circle.
It also brought out some of the biggest names in the sport. Render Judgment, conditioned by last year's Kentucky Derby-winning trainer winner Ken McPeek, was ridden by jockey Sheldon Russell after last year's Derby-winning rider, Brian Hernandez Jr., had plane issues, according to a social media posting from McPeek before the race.
"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," Russell said. "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)."
Now with 29 points, Render Judgment vaulted himself into contention for a spot in the Kentucky Derby. He currently sits in 14th place as he tries to earn a spot in the 20-horse field.
Omaha Omaha, the local fan favorite, born at Chance Farm in Gordonville, Va., also finished well to take third.
"I thought (Omaha Omaha) ran excellent," trainer Mike Gorham said. "He closed a lot of ground. He was still coming at the end. Got beat by some good horses. They ran fast. They ran a track record."
Getaway Car finished fourth, earning 10 points to give him a total of 46, placing him eighth in the Road to the Kentucky Derby standings should his connections decide to go on.
"I broke good and I didn't want to give up the lead," said Getaway Car's jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. "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)."
The winner paid $16.80 for a $2 win bet. American Promise is by fourth-crop sire Justify , who won the 2018 Triple Crown and retired undefeated in six starts. Justify stands at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky., for a 2025 fee of $250,000.
American Promise was bred in Kentucky by Candy Meadows, which consigned him to the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where BC Stables bought him for $750,000. American Promise is the third foal out of the winning Tapit mare Tapella, who also has produced grade 2 winner Hoosier Philly, by Into Mischief .
Sam F. Davis Stakes winner John Hancock, who was set to be ridden by the Hall of Famer and Justify's 2018 Triple Crown-winning jockey Mike Smith, was scratched from the Virginia Derby in favor of entering the $1 million Louisiana Derby March 22 at Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots.
