Supercharged Incredibolt’s once murky path to the 152nd Kentucky Derby (G1) is now much clearer after a brilliant bounce back victory in the $500,000 Virginia Derby, Saturday at Colonial Downs. Coming off a tough sixth-place finish in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes on January 31, the sophomore Bolt d’Oro colt recaptured the form that delivered a pair of wins, including the Street Sense (G3), last season. The dashing four-length tally under rider Jaime Torres pushed Incredibolt into a tie atop the Kentucky Derby points ladder with 60, all but ensuring his spot in this year’s “Run for the Roses.” Now at 3-0-0 with nearly $500,000 banked across five starts, Incredibolt (6-1) paid $14.40. High Fashion Bottle of Rouge was simply a cut above the rest in Saturday’s $250,000 Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs. Sent off as the 4-5 choice, the 3-year-old Vino Rosso filly took control of the 1 1/16-mile contest at the stretch and never looked back as her lead ballooned to a healthy 4 ¼ lengths at the wire. Trained by Bob Baffert and owned by his wife, Jill, Bottle of Rouge is now firmly on track for May’s Kentucky Oaks (G1) with 57.5 qualifying points – good for third on the leaderboard. Up to 4-1-0 lifetime with $577,000 in prizes (six starts), Bottle of Rouge paid $3.60 for her latest triumph. Final Stand Veteran War Front gelding Sumter held down the fort with a valiant stand to capture the $100,000 San Simeon Stakes (G3T) on Saturday at Santa Anita. Paired with hall of fame rider Mike Smith, Sumter closely followed early leader Quereme Pass (ARG) before taking the lead at the stretch. Once in front, the 7-year-old out of More Than Ready mare A Little Bit Sassy buckled down and held firm to cross the finish line a nose in front of his Argentinian counterpart. The resolute effort represented Sumter’s first career graded stakes triumph in his 16th attempt at the level. Trained by Richard Mandella for owners Perry Bass II and Ramona Bass, Sumter (5-2) paid $7.80. Within Range Tejano Twist’s mission to reach the $2 million earnings club is almost complete after the Practical Joke gelding reached the winner’s circle in Saturday’s $250,000 Whitmore Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park. A winner last time out following a pair of runner-up efforts to begin his 2026 meet, Tejano Twist stepped up to the graded ranks and got the job done with a smooth two-length decision. It was the 7-year-old chestnut’s second career Whitmore triumph, and first since his maiden appearance in the six-furlong sprint in 2023. Now sporting a 12-13-7 line with $1,903,882 banked from 47 starts, Tejano Twist’s (2-1) Whitmore redux paid $6 flat. Royal Flush Twirling Queen set the pace and scored the 18-1 upset in Saturday’s $125,000 Captiva Island Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Making her second start of the season, the 5-year-old Twirling Candy mare confidently avenged a fourth-place finish in the Ladies’ Turf Sprint Stakes with an all-star outing under rider Luis Saez. The eighth win of Twirling Queen’s 19-start career (8-1-0; $692,039) was her fifth of the stakes variety and first since the Senator Ken Maddy on November 1, 2024. Bred by Pursuit of Success LLC and owned by Hernan Gomez, Twirling Queen paid $38.20. Matthew Lomon, for Woodbine Share This:Share
