Incredibolt Dominates Virginia Derby, Vaults Into Kentucky Derby Contention

A half-length off the lead with a furlong remaining, Incredibolt suddenly found daylight along the Colonial Downs rail on Saturday and exploded clear of the field, zipping the final eighth in 12.02 seconds to win the $500,000 Virginia Derby by four lengths and establish himself as a genuine Kentucky Derby threat.

Ridden by Jaime Torres for trainer Riley Mott and owner Pin Oak Stud LLC, the dark bay Bolt d'Oro colt covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.76 on a fast track, returning $14.40 to win. Grittiness, representing Repole Stable, finished second; Confessional was third; Bob Baffert's Buetane fourth; and early pacesetter Lockstocknpharoah, who set fractions of :23.49 and :47.15 through the half, faded to fifth.

The victory earned Incredibolt the full 50 Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifying points. Combined with the 10 he collected by winning the Grade 3 Street Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs last autumn, he now sits at 60 points total. The AP reported that those 60 points tied Incredibolt with Paladin atop the leaderboard heading toward the May 2 Kentucky Derby, though some outlets described him sitting second behind Paladin. Either way, the top 20 horses earn a gate spot in Louisville.

Getting there required patience and nerve. Incredibolt spent the bulk of the race bottled up behind and between horses on the long backstretch run and through the turn. At the top of the stretch, he got squeezed again before Torres threaded him down to the inside rail.

"He was pretty much surrounded by horses the whole way around," Mott said. "He took Jaime right up into the hole on the rail, turning for home, and he blasted off and was pulling away from him at the end."

Torres, who has been aboard for all five of Incredibolt's career starts, described a ride built on restraint. "I felt like I had a lot of horse by the half-mile, the three-eighths," he said. "I felt like they were slowing down in front, and I was just waiting for the spot." When that spot opened, Incredibolt responded emphatically, running away from a field that had him pinned moments earlier.

"I have no words," Torres said of the prospect of a Kentucky Derby mount. "No words. It's a dream come true."

The performance was a sharp rebound from a January disaster. On Jan. 31, Incredibolt finished last in the Grade 3 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park, beaten 25 lengths after racing on an inside path on a day when the outside was heavily favored. Mott never lost confidence, and Saturday's result vindicated that patience.

"It was very impressive," Mott said. "He sat right in the pocket behind a hot pace and was surrounded by horses most of the way. He's bred to do it and he's shown us he can finish races going long, so we're optimistic and hopeful we can make it to the first Saturday in May."

Mott added an emotional note, referencing the horse's ownership team. "I'm especially happy for the Pin Oak team and the Bernhard family. We're missing a very important member today in Mr. Jim Bernhard, but I know he's looking down on us."

The breeding numbers behind Incredibolt are striking given his price tag. Pin Oak Stud acquired him for $75,000 as a yearling at the 2024 Keeneland September sale. His dam, Sapphire Spitfire, by Awesome Again, has produced five winners from five starters. His half-sibling Fire On Time, by Not This Time, earned $500,330. Incredibolt's own career earnings now stand at $498,681 through five starts, three of which were victories.

Sire Bolt d'Oro, a Spendthrift Farm stallion, now claims 21 stakes winners from five crops of racing age. Torres has ridden every one of Incredibolt's five starts, and if the colt arrives healthy at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May, that partnership will face the sport's most demanding stage together.

A notable subplot runs alongside the horse's story: if Incredibolt makes the Derby, Riley Mott could potentially share the card with his father, Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, who conditions current Derby contender Chief Wallabee.