Cox Looks to Virginia Derby, Oaks With Confessional, Hit Parade

Brad Cox, who annually develops some of the sport’s top 3-year-olds, sends out Confessional in the $500,000 Virginia Derby and Hit Parade in the $250,000 Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs on Saturday, as both continue their push for a spot in the 152nd Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks.

The 1 1/8-mile Virginia Derby, slated as Race 9 and the centerpiece of the 10-race card, is immediately preceded by the 1 1/16-mile Virginia Oaks. Both races award Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks qualifying points of 50-25-15-10-5, respectively, to the top five finishers. First post Saturday is 12 p.m. ET.

Owned by Steve Landers Racing, Confessional will make his third start since breaking his maiden at Keeneland in October. The colt most recently finished seventh to Renegade in the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, his lone Derby prep race to date.

“He didn’t run as well as we expected,” Cox said. “He broke from the inside, and I thought he was getting a good trip, but found a little trouble going into the stretch when I felt like it was really time to go forward. He’s always trained well, and he’s continuing to train well, so we’re giving him another swing.”

While racing in tight quarters through the far turn in the Sam F. Davis, Confessional tried to cut the corner and make a run but found himself bottled up by two foes. It was his first start without blinkers, which will be reapplied for the Virginia Derby.

“I’m putting blinkers back on to hopefully give him a little more confidence and go forward,” Cox said. “Maybe if he does get in some tight spots, he’ll be thinking about going forward instead of looking at other horses.”