Baffert sends Buetane to Virginia Derby, Bottle of Rouge to Oaks

After being redesigned as a Kentucky Derby (G1) prep last year, the $500,000 Virginia Derby heads a special three-day session at Colonial Downs this weekend, offering qualifying points on a 50-25-15-10-5 basis to the respective top five finishers. The 1 1/8-mile race will be run around one turn and features a field of 10, led by 5-2 morning line favorite Buetane.

Along with the Virginia Derby, Saturday’s 10-race program also features the $250,000 Virginia Oaks. The 105-point Road to the Kentucky Oaks series qualifier is topped by Sunland Oaks winner Bottle of Rouge, the early 6-5 choice among six fillies in the 1 1/16-mile event.

Buetane and Bottle of Rouge are both trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, a six-time Kentucky Derby winner and three-time Kentucky Oaks winner.

Runner-up in last year’s Hopeful (G1) at Saratoga, Buetane wasn’t seen again under silks until the San Vicente (G2) in mid-January, finishing second following the 4 1/2-month layoff. He stretched to two turns in the Feb. 6 Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn Park, weakening to third after contesting the early pace, and the chestnut son of Tiz the Law will break from the rail in his third start back with Flavien Prat.

Confessional will add blinkers for his second stakes attempt and has been pegged as the 4-1 second choice on the morning line. A smart debut winner at Keeneland last fall, the Brad Cox-trained colt finished second to well-regarded Nearly when returning in a Gulfstream allowance this year, but Confessional did not enjoy a favorable trip from the innermost post when trying two turns in the Sam F. Davis S. last out. Irad Ortiz Jr. will be in for the mount.

High Camp will receive support following a sharp maiden score at Gulfstream Park, and John Velazquez will be back up for Will Walden. Lockstocknpharoah, a romping winner in his first two starts on Turfway’s synthetic track, will try to carry his form forward while stepping up to face stakes rivals for Tommy Drury. Other contenders include Grade 3 juvenile winner Incredibolt, who will try to rebound from an unplaced effort in the Holy Bull (G3), and Withers runner-up Grittiness.

Winner of the Del Mar Debutante (G1), Bottle of Rouge opened her three-year-old campaign with 1 1/2-length victory in the Sunland Oaks where she still showed signs of greenness, swerving out in the stretch. We’ll see if the gray daughter of Vino Rosso can show more professionalism on Saturday, and Bottle of Rouge will add Prat.

Dazzling Dame, the 5-2 second choice, merits respect following an 11-length victory in the Busanda S. at Aqueduct in early January. Jevian Toledo will guide for Brittany Russell. Hit Parade, winner of the Untapable S. two back, is another possible serious player. Ortiz will be up for Cox.