The excitement building in Virginia around the first-ever spring meet at Colonial Downs will come to a head March 15 as the $500,000 Virginia Derby makes its debut on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Trainer Lonnie Briley said whether Rebel Stakes (G2) winner Coal Battle makes another start before the May 3 Kentucky Derby (G1) or not is being left up to the colt.

Greg Wolf & Sara Elbadwi look back at the Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn and the Tampa Bay Derby Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

Owen Almighty, twice beaten in a pair of earlier races at Tampa Bay Downs this winter, took the top prize when stakes were highest in the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G3) March 8.

On March 8, comebacking dual grade 1 winner Chancer McPatrick gets a second crack at a two-turn route when he attempts to rebound from his first defeat last fall in the $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G3).

After finishing third in the March 1 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park, trainer Ian Wilkes says Holy Bull Stakes (G3) winner Burnham Square will target the April 5 Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland.

The "Euro" part of the Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby winds up without much sizzle March 7 at Dundalk in Ireland.

Three Heating Up for the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1)

Byron King's Top 12 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, presented by Spendthrift Farm.

An exciting day of racing March 1 caused significant stirs in the voting for the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Top 3-Year-Old and Thoroughbred polls, released March 4.

On the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail, John Battaglia Memorial Stakes winner California Burrito is taking Aaron and Victoria Haberman on the "thrill of a lifetime."

Aaron Haberman joins the March 3 episode of BloodHorse Monday to discuss Kentucky Derby (G1) hopeful California Burrito. OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski joins to preview the upcoming OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.

Coal Battle, a $70,000 yearling purchase who earned his maiden in a $30,000 race at Evangeline Downs, sits atop the Kentucky Derby (G1) leaderboard with 70 points, igniting the Derby dream for his connections.

Godolphin's Sovereignty, who surged from last to first to capture the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park March 1, met his connections' expectations and then some while emerging as an exciting Triple Crown prospect.

Southwest Stakes (G3) winner Speed King is being pointed to Oaklawn Park's $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1) at 1 1/8 miles March 29, trainer Ron Moquett said March 2.

Journalism caught pacesetting Barnes and scored a decisive victory in the San Felipe Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park.

With an electrifying rally through the stretch, Sovereignty ran down River Thames to win the March 1 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park.

Talk about a quick dividend. In his first race since being purchased privately, not only did Flood Zone land in the winner's circle at 17-1 odds, he earned a spot in the Kentucky Derby (G1).

Multiple grade-1 placed Ferocious is off the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail with a muscle tear injury possibly sustained during the Feb. 1 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park.

Trainer Mark Casse said an extra sixteenth of a mile should help the grade 2-placed son of Tapit.