World Beater ran just as his name suggests in the Sept. 6 $503,600 Old Dominion Derby (G3T), overcoming a slow pace and soft turf course to capture his third stakes victory.
The newly renamed Old Dominion Derby, formerly run as the Virginia Derby, was delayed more than 30 minutes when a flash thunderstorm rolled over New Kent, Va. Colonial Down's firm turf course swelled with the incessant rain, and by the time racing commenced for the Old Dominion Oaks, the grass was listed as soft.
Vanning into Colonial Downs from trainer Riley Mott's Keeneland | BloodHorse.com Track Profile">Keeneland base, there would be no turning back now for World Beater as he lined up in the field of eight sophomores. Reunited with jockey Jaime Torres Saturday, the pair perched in the clear in midpack as Iron Hand crawled through slow opening fractions of :25.38, :51.18, and 1:16.77. Advancing on the leaders, Torres gave his patient mount the green light turning for home, to which the colt responded with a swift turn of foot. Asserting his authority down the lane, Torres hand rode the son of Oscar Performance to the wire, merely showing him the whip for further encouragement.
Pin Oak Stud's newly minted millionaire crossed the wire 1 3/4 lengths in front in a final time of 1:53.01 for 1 1/8 miles. The Old Dominion Derby marked back-to-back graded scores for World Beater, who had achieved grade 1 winner status with his triumph in last month's Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T).
"He was rolling very good today," Torres said, who landed three stakes wins on the day at Colonial Downs. "He didn't care about how wet it was. I'm very, very happy with him. He's all talent."
The heavy 2-5 favorite returned $2.80 for a $2 win ticket.
"I'm just very thankful that we could bring the horse here in good shape and perform well in front of this crowd," Mott said. "We've got a big group here with my wife's side coming in from Charlottesville, Virginia. We will watch him for a week or two to see (what's next). It's been a long season for him, but we have pretty big aspirations for his 4-year-old year next year."
Mesero, eighth behind World Beater in the May 31 Audubon Stakes, rallied belatedly to get up for second, edging Colts Neck Stables' Outrunner for runner-up honors.
Video: Old Dominion Derby (G3T)
As Catch Can Lands First Stakes Win in Old Dominion Oaks
A consistent filly year-long at the stakes level, As Catch Can put the pieces together late to notch her first black-type victory in the $253,600 Old Dominion Oaks..
The third-longest shot on the board at 16-1, As Catch Can ($34.20) reeled in the pacesetting Evershed to score by three-quarters of length under Torres.
Trained by Jonathan Thomas for Augustin Stable, the 3-year-old Mo Town filly clocked the 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.28.
